Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/300

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As above the net I leaned me,

In the boat as I was swaying,

For no fish received I ever

From my mother-in-law neglectful,

Neither in a day of plenty,

Nor a day of double plenty.

“Fodder gathered I in summer,

Winter worked I with the pitchfork,

Even as a labourer toiling,

Even as a hired servant,

And my mother-in-law for ever,

Evermore for me selected,

Worst of all the flails for threshing,

Heaviest mallet from the bathroom,

From the beach the heaviest mallet,

In the stall the largest pitchfork.

Never did they think me weary,

Nor my weakness e’er considered,

Though my work had wearied heroes,

Or the strength of foals exhausted.

“Thus did I, a girl unhappy,

Work at proper time for working,

And my shoulders stooped with weakness;

And at other times they ordered

That the fire should now be kindled,

With my hands that I should stir it.

“To their hearts’ desire they scolded,

With their tongues they heaped reproaches

On my spotless reputation,

On my character, though stainless.

Evil words they heaped upon me,

And abuse they showered upon me,

Like the sparks from furious fire,

Or a very hail of iron.

“Until then despaired I never,

And had spent my life as erstwhile

There to aid the harsh old woman,

To her fiery tongue submitting:

But ’twas this that brought me evil,

This that caused me greatest anguish,