Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/120

108

“Shall I thresh with all my efforts,

Putting forth my manly efforts;

Shall I thresh with common efforts,

As the threshing-pole is able?”

Answered thereupon the net-man,

“Would you call it proper threshing,

If with all your strength you threshed not,

Putting forth your manly efforts?”

Kullervo, Kalervo’s offspring,

Threshed away with all his efforts,

Putting forth his manly efforts.

Into soup he churned the water,

Into tow he threshed the drag-net,

Into slime he crushed the fishes.

Kalervo came forth to see it,

And he spoke the words which follow:

“No, you understand not threshing,

Into tow is threshed the drag-net,

And the floats to chaff are beaten,

And the meshes torn to fragments,

Therefore go and pay the taxes,

Therefore go and pay the land-dues.

Best it is for you to travel,

Learning wisdom on the journey.”

Kullervo, Kalervo’s offspring,

With the very bluest stockings,

And with yellow hair the finest,

And with shoes of finest leather,

Went his way to pay the taxes,

And he went to pay the land-dues.

When he now had paid the taxes,

And had also paid the land-dues,

In his sledge he quickly bounded,

And upon the sledge he mounted,

And began to journey homeward,

And to travel to his country.

And he drove, and rattled onward,

And he travelled on his journey,

Traversing the heath of Väino,

And his clearing made aforetime.