Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/298

278

As a berry grows in marshland,

And in other waters, cherry.

Like a cranberry sought I sorrow,

Like a strawberry exhortation.

Every tree appeared to bite me,

Every alder seemed to tear me,

Every birch appeared to scold me,

Every aspen to devour me.

“As my husband’s bride they brought me,

To my mother-in-law they led me.

Here there were, as they had told me,

Waiting for the wedded maiden,

Six large rooms of pine constructed,

And of bedrooms twice as many.

Barns along the forest-borders,

By the roadside flowery gardens,

By the ditches fields of barley,

And along the heaths were oatfields,

Chests of corn threshed out already,

Other chests awaiting threshing,

Hundred coins received already.

And a hundred more expected.

“Foolishly had I gone thither,

Recklessly my hand had given,

For six props the house supported,

Seven small poles the house supported,

And the woods were filled with harshness,

And with lovelessness the forests,

By the roadsides dreary deserts,

In the woodlands thoughts of evil,

Chests containing spoilt provisions,

Other chests beside them spoiling:

And a hundred words reproachful,

And a hundred more to look for.

“But I let it not distress me,

Hoping there to live in quiet,

Wishing there to dwell in honour,

And a peaceful life to live there;

But when first the room I entered,

Over chips of wood I stumbled,