Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/163

Runo XXXIX]

Said the lively Lemminkainen,

“O thou aged Väinämöinen,

Take me with you as your comrade,

As the third among the heroes,

When you go to seize the Sampo,

Bear away the pictured cover.

Perhaps my manly sword may aid you,

In the combat may be useful,

As my hands may bear you witness,

And my shoulders witness to you.”

Väinämöinen, old and steadfast,

Took the man upon his journey,

In the boat he took the rascal,

And the lively Lemminkainen

Hurried on to climb upon it,

And he hastened quick to board it,

And his planks he carried with him

To the boat of Väinämöinen.

Said the aged Väinämöinen,

“In my boat is wood in plenty,

Planks sufficient for the vessel,

And besides ’tis heavy laden.

Wherefore do you bring more planking,

Bringing timber to the vessel?”

Said the lively Lemminkainen,

“Foresight will not sink the vessel,

Nor o’erturns a prop the haystack.

Often on the lake of Pohja,

Does the wind destroy the planking,

When the sides are dashed together.”

Said the aged Väinämöinen,

“Therefore in a ship for battle,

Are the sides composed of iron,

And the prow of steel constructed,

Lest the wind aside should turn it,

Storms should shatter it to pieces.”