Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/329

Runo XXV]

Here the master’s like thy father,

And the mistress like thy mother,

And the sons are like thy brothers,

And the daughters like thy sisters.

“If the longing e’er should seize thee,

And the wish should overtake thee,

For the fish thy father captured,

Or for grouse to ask thy brother,

From thy brother-in-law ask nothing,

From thy father-in-law ask nothing;

Best it is to ask thy husband,

Ask him to obtain them for thee.

There are not within the forest

Any four-legged beasts that wander,

Neither birds in air that flutter

Two-winged birds with rushing pinions,

Neither in the shining waters

Swarm the best of all the fishes,

Which thy husband cannot capture;

He can catch and bring them to thee.

“Here ’tis good to be a damsel,

Here to be a fair-faced dovekin;

Need is none to work the stone-mill;

Need is none to work the mortar;

Here the wheat is ground by water,

And the rye by foaming torrents,

And the stream cleans all utensils,

And the lake-foam cleanses all things.

“O thou lovely little village,

Fairest spot in all the country!

Grass below, and cornfields over,

In the midst between the village.

Fair the shore below the village,

By the shore is gleaming water,

Where the ducks delight in swimming,

And the water-fowl are sporting.”

Drink they gave the bridal party,

Food and drink they gave in plenty,

Meat provided in abundance,

Loaves provided of the finest.

Rh