Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/93

Runo VIII]

For a girl in father’s dwelling,

Or in household of a husband?’

“Thereupon the bird made answer,

And the fieldfare answered chirping:

‘Brilliant is the day in summer,

But a maiden’s lot is brighter.

And the frost makes cold the iron,

Yet the new bride’s lot is colder.

In her father’s house a maiden

Lives like strawberry in the garden,

But a bride in house of husband,

Lives like house-dog tightly fettered.

To a slave comes rarely pleasure;

To a wedded damsel never.’”

Väinämöinen, old and steadfast,

Answered in the words which follow:

“Song of birds is idle chatter,

And the throstle’s, merely chirping;

As a child a daughter’s treated,

But a maid must needs be married.

Come into my sledge, O maiden,

In the sledge beside me seat thee.

I am not a man unworthy,

Lazier not than other heroes.”

But the maid gave crafty answer,

And in words like these responded:

“As a man I will esteem you,

And as hero will regard you,

If you can split up a horsehair

With a blunt and pointless knife-blade,

And an egg in knots you tie me,

Yet no knot is seen upon it.”

Väinämöinen, old and steadfast,

Then the hair in twain divided,

With a blunt and pointless knife-blade,

With a knife completely pointless,

And an egg in knots he twisted,

Yet no knot was seen upon it.

Then again he asked the maiden

In the sledge to sit beside him.