Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/311

Runo XXIV]

For in very truth our damsel

Comes of great and famous lineage.

If of beans you sow a measure

One bean each, it yields her kinsfolk;

If of flax you sow a measure,

But a thread it yields to each one.

“Never may’st thou, luckless husband,

Badly treat this beauteous damsel,

Nor chastise her with the slave-whip,

Weeping ’neath the thongs of leather,

’Neath the five-lashed whip lamenting,

Out beyond the barn lamenting.

Never was the maid aforetime,

Never in her father’s dwelling,

With the slave-whip e’er corrected,

Weeping ’neath the thongs of leather,

’Neath the five-lashed whip lamenting,

Out beyond the barn lamenting.

“Stand thou like a wall before her,

Stand before her like a doorpost,

Do not let thy mother beat her,

Do not let thy father scold her,

Do not let the guests abuse her,

Do not let the neighbours blame her.

Drive the mob away with whipping,

Beat thou other people only,

Do thou not oppress thy darling,

Nor chastise thy heart’s beloved,

Whom for three long years thou waitedst.

She whom thou alone hast longed for.

“Bridegroom, give thy bride instruction,

And do thou instruct thy apple,

In the bed do thou instruct her,

And behind the door advise her,

For a whole year thus instruct her,

Thus by word of mouth advise her,

With thine eyes the next year teach her,

And the third year teach by stamping.

“If to this she pays no heeding,

Nor concerns herself about it,

Rh