Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/141

Runo XXXVII]

While himself, smith Ilmarinen,

Carefully the fire was tending,

As he strove a bride to fashion,

Out of gold and out of silver.

Badly worked the slaves the bellows,

And the labourers did not press them,

And on this, smith Ilmarinen

Went himself to work the bellows,

Once and twice he worked the bellows,

For a third time worked the bellows,

Then looked down into the furnace,

Looking closely to the bellows,

What rose up from out the furnace,

What from out the flames ascended.

Then a maid rose from the furnace,

Golden-locked, from out the bellows,

Head of silver, hair all golden,

And her figure all was lovely.

Others might have shuddered at her,

Ilmarinen was not frightened.

Thereupon smith Ilmarinen

Set to work to shape the image,

Worked at night without cessation,

And by day he worked unresting.

Feet he fashioned for the maiden,

Fashioned feet; and hands he made her,

But the feet would not support her,

Neither would the arms embrace him.

Ears he fashioned for the maiden,

But the ears served not for hearing,

And a dainty mouth he made her,

Tender mouth and shining eyeballs,

But the mouth served not for speaking,

And the eyes served not for smiling.

Said the smith, said Ilmarinen

“She would be a pretty maiden,

If she had the art of speaking,

And had sense, and spoke discreetly.”

After this he laid the maiden

On the softest of the blankets,

Rh