Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/148

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“Know, the sledge by smith was fashioned,

And the boards are bound with iron,

And it can withstand the pushing,

And the noble maiden’s struggles.”

Then the hapless girl lamented,

And bewailed, the copper-belted,

Struggled till she broke her fingers,

Struggled till her hands were twisted,

And she spoke the words which follow:

“If you will not now release me,

To a lake-fish I’ll transform me,

In the deepest waves a powan.”

Thereupon smith Ilmarinen

Answered in the words which follow:

“Even so you will not ’scape me,

I myself as pike will follow.”

Then the hapless girl lamented,

And bewailed, the copper-belted,

Struggled till she broke her fingers,

Struggled till her hands were twisted,

And she spoke the words which follow:

“If you will not now release me,

To the wood will I betake me,

Hiding in the rocks like ermine.”

Thereupon smith Ilmarinen

Answered in the words which follow:

“Even thus you will not ’scape me,

For as otter I’ll pursue you.”

Then the hapless girl lamented,

And bewailed, the copper-belted,

Struggled till she broke her fingers,

Struggled till her hands were twisted,

And she spoke the words which follow:

“If you will not now release me,

As a lark I’ll soar above you,

And behind the clouds will hide me.”

Thereupon smith Ilmarinen,

Answered in the words which follow:

“Even thus you will not ’scape me,

For as eagle I’ll pursue you.”