Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/71

Runo V]

Then her hands in air uplifted,

And displayed her left foot also,

When the seventh wave rose, upswelling,

And upon the ninth wave’s summit.

Thereupon the fish addressed him,

And it spoke, and thus protested:

“O thou aged Väinämöinen,

Surely I have not come hither,

Like a salmon, to be slaughtered,

Or a fish, to cut to pieces,

Only to become your breakfast,

Or a snack to make your luncheon,

To provide you with a dinner,

And a plenteous supper likewise.”

Said the aged Väinämöinen,

“Wherefore didst thou then come hither?”

“Therefore ’tis that I have sought thee,

In thine arm like dove to nestle,

By thy side to sit for ever,

On thy knee, as consort sitting,

To prepare the couch to rest thee,

And to smooth thy pillow for thee,

Keep thy little room in order,

And to sweep the flooring for thee,

In thy room to light the fire,

And to fan the flames up brightly,

There large loaves of bread to bake thee,

Cakes of honey to prepare thee,

And thy jug of beer to fill thee,

And thy dinner set before thee.

“I am not a water-salmon,

Not a perch from deepest water,

But a young and lovely maiden,

Youthful Joukahainen’s sister,

Whom thou all thy life hast longed for,

Whom thou hast so long desired.

“O thou pitiful old creature,

Väinämöinen, void of wisdom,

Thou hadst not the wit to hold me,

Vellamo’s young water-maiden,