Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/49

Runo III]

“O thou wisest Väinämöinen,

O thou oldest of magicians,

Speak thy words of magic backwards,

And reverse thy songs of magic.

Loose me from this place of terror,

And release me from my torment.

I will pay the highest ransom,

And the fixed reward will give thee.”

Said the aged Väinämöinen,

“What do you propose to give me,

If I turn my words of magic,

And reverse my songs of magic,

Loose you from this place of terror,

And release you from your torment?”

Said the youthful Joukahainen,

“I’ve two crossbows I could give you,

Ay, a pair of splendid crossbows,

One shoots forth with passing quickness,

Surely hits the mark the other.

If it please you, choose between them.”

Said the aged Väinämöinen,

“No, your bows I do not covet,

For the wretched bows I care not;

I myself have plenty of them.

All the walls are decked with crossbows,

All the pegs are hung with crossbows;

In the woods they wander hunting,

Nor a hero needs to span them.”

Then the youthful Joukahainen

In the swamp he sang yet deeper.

Said the youthful Joukahainen,

“I have yet two boats to offer;

Splendid boats, as I can witness,

One is light, and fit for racing,

Heavy loads will bear the other;

If it please you, choose between them.”

Said the aged Väinämöinen,

“No, your boats I do not covet,

And I will not choose between them,

I myself have plenty of them.