Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/37

Runo II]

That the birds might rest upon it,

And from thence might call the cuckoo.

In the sky there soared an eagle,

Of the birds of air the greatest,

And he came and gazed around him.

“Wherefore is the work unfinished,

And the birch-tree still unfallen?

Wherefore spare the beauteous birch-tree?”

Said the aged Väinämöinen,

“Therefore is the birch left standing,

That the birds may perch upon it;

All the birds of air may rest there.”

Said the bird of air, the eagle,

“Very wisely hast thou acted,

Thus to leave the birch-tree standing

And the lovely tree unfallen,

That the birds may perch upon it,

And that I myself may rest there.”

Then the bird of air struck fire,

And the flames rose up in brightness,

While the north wind fanned the forest,

And the north-east wind blew fiercely.

All the trees were burned to ashes,

Till the sparks were quite extinguished.

Then the aged Väinämöinen,

Took the six seeds from his satchel,

And he took the seven small kernels,

From the marten’s skin he took them,

From the leg of summer squirrel,

From the leg of summer ermine.

Then he went to sow the country,

And to scatter seeds around him,

And he spoke the words which follow:

"Now I stoop the seeds to scatter,

As from the Creator’s fingers,

From the hand of Him Almighty,

That the country may be fertile,

And the corn may grow and flourish.

“Patroness of lowland country,

Old one of the plains; Earth-Mother,

Rh