Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/109

Runo XXXIII]

Come you forth to smoke the cattle,

And come out to milk the cattle.”

Then did Ilmarinen’s housewife

Bid the mother milk the cattle.

“Mother, go and milk the cattle,

Do thou go to tend the cattle,

For I think I cannot finish

Kneading dough as I would have it.”

Kullervo, Kalervo’s offspring,

Answered in the words which follow:

“Ever do the thrifty housewives,

Ever do the careful housewives

Go the first to milk the cattle,

Set themselves to milk the cattle.”

Then did Ilmarinen’s housewife

Hasten forth to smoke the cattle,

And she went to milk the cattle,

And surveyed the herd before her,

Gazed upon the horned cattle,

And she spoke the words which follow:

“Beauteous is the herd to gaze on,

Very sleek the horned cattle,

They have all been rubbed with lynx-skin

And the wool of sheep of forest,

Well-filled, too, are all their udders,

And expanded with their fulness.”

So she stooped her down to milk them,

And she sat her down for milking,

Pulled a first time and a second,

And attempted it a third time,

And the wolf sprang fiercely at her,

And the bear came fiercely after.

At her mouth the wolf was tearing,

And the bear tore through her tendons,

Halfway through her calves they bit her,

And they broke across her shinbones.

Kullervo, Kalervo’s offspring

Thus repaid the damsel’s jesting,

Damsel’s jesting, woman’s mocking,

Thus repaid the wicked woman.

Rh