Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/78

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For the head of Väinämöinen,

Thus to kill Suvantolainen,

I will shoot old Väinämöinen,

Strike the ever-famous minstrel,

Through the heart, and through the liver,

’Twixt the shoulders I will shoot him.”

But his mother straight forbade him,

And dissuaded him from shooting.

“Do not shoot at Väinämöinen,

Do not Kalevalainen slaughter.

Of a noble race is Väinö ;

He’s my sister’s son, my nephew.

“If you shoot at Väinämöinen,

And should Kalevalainen slaughter,

Gladness from the world will vanish,

And from earth will song be banished.

In the world is gladness better,

And on earth is song more cheerful,

Than to Manala if banished,

And to Tuonela’s darkest regions.”

Then the youthful Joukahainen

Paused a moment and reflected,

And he pondered for an instant,

Though his hands to shoot were ready,

One would shoot, and one restrained him,

But his sinewy fingers forced him.

And at length these words he uttered,

And expressed his own decision:

“What if twice from earth in future

Every gladness should be banished?

Let all songs for ever vanish;

I will shoot my arrows, heedless!”

Then he spanned the mighty crossbow,

And he drew the bow of copper,

And against his left knee bent it,

Steady with his foot he held it,

Took an arrow from his quiver,

Chose a triple-feathered arrow,

Took the strongest of his arrows,

Chose the very best among them,