Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/156

144

And he spoke the words which follow:

“Thus, with such a blade as this is,

Can I cleave the mountains open,

Cleave the rocky hills asunder.”

After this did Ilmarinen

Speak aloud the words which follow:

“How shall I myself, unhappy,

How shall I, the weak, defend me,

And shall armour me, and belt me,

’Gainst the risks of land and water?

Shall I clothe myself in armour,

In a coat of mail the strongest,

Gird a belt of steel around me?

Stronger is a man in armour,

In a coat of mail is better,

With a belt of steel more mighty.”

Then arrived the time for starting,

And preparing for departure;

First the aged Väinämöinen,

Secondly smith Ilmarinen,

And they went to seek the courser,

And to find the yellow-maned one,

And the one-year old to bridle,

And to see the foal was rough-shod.

Then they went to seek the courser,

Went to seek him in the forest,

And they gazed around them keenly,

And they sought around the blue wood,

Found the horse among the bushes,

Found the yellow-maned in firwood.

Väinämöinen, old and steadfast,

Secondly smith Ilmarinen,

On his head the bit adjusted,

And the one-year old they bridled,

And they drove upon their journey.

On the shore drove both the heroes,

On the shore they heard lamenting,

From the haven heard complaining.

Then the aged Väinämöinen

Spoke aloud the words which follow: