Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/312

292

Choose a reed where reeds are growing,

From the heath fetch thou some horse-tail,

And with these correct the damsel,

In the fourth year thus correct her,

With the stalks then whip her lightly,

With the rough edge of the sedges,

But with whip-lash do not strike her,

Neither with the rod correct her.

“If to this she pays no heeding,

Nor concerns herself about it,

Bring a switch from out the thicket,

In the dell select a birch-rod,

Underneath thy fur cloak hide it,

That the neighbours may not know it,

Let the damsel only see it;

Threaten her, but do not touch her.

“If to this she pays no heeding,

Nor concerns herself about it,

With the switch correct the damsel,

With the birch-rod do thou teach her,

But within the room four-cornered,

Or within the hut moss-covered.

Do not beat her in the meadow,

Do not whip her in the cornfield,

Lest the noise should reach the village,

And to other homes the quarrel,

Neighbours’ wives should hear the crying,

And the uproar in the forest.

“Always strike her on the shoulders,

On her soft cheeks do thou strike her,

On her eyes forbear to strike her,

On her ears forbear to touch her;

Lumps would rise upon her temples,

And her eyes with blue be bordered,

And the brother-in-law would question,

And the father-in-law perceive it,

And the village ploughmen see it,

And would laugh the village women:

“‘Has she been among the spear-thrusts,

Has she marched into a battle,