Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/42

22

Stony gloves his hands shall cover,

And his head a stony helmet."

Then he went his way unheeding,

Went his way, and fetched his gelding,

From whose mouth the fire was flashing,

’Neath whose legs the sparks were flying.

Then the fiery steed he harnessed,

To the golden sledge he yoked him,

In the sledge himself he mounted,

And upon the seat he sat him,

O’er the horse his whip he brandished,

With the beaded whip he smote him,

From the place the horse sprang quickly,

And he darted lightly forwards.

On he drove with thundering clatter,

As he drove a day, a second,

Driving also on the third day,

And at length upon the third day,

Came to Väinölä’s sweet meadows,

Kalevala’s extended heathlands.

Väinämöinen, old and steadfast,

He, the oldest of magicians,

As it chanced was driving onward,

Peacefully his course pursuing

On through Väinölä’s sweet meadows,

Kalevala's extended heathlands.

Came the youthful Joukahainen

Driving on the road against him,

And the shafts were wedged together,

And the reins were all entangled,

And the collar jammed with collar,

And the runners dashed together.

Thus their progress was arrested,

Thus they halted and reflected;

Sweat dropped down upon the runners;

From the shafts the steam was rising.

Asked the aged Väinämöinen,

“Who are you, and what your lineage,

You who drive so reckless onward,

Utterly without reflection?