Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/17

Runo XXVI]

Tell me now of death the second.”

Then said Lemminkainen’s mother,

“Such the second death that waits you:

When a little way you’ve journeyed,

On the second day of travel,

You will reach a trench of fire,

Right across the path extending,

Ever to the east extending,

North-west endlessly extending,

Full of stones to redness heated,

Full of blocks of stone all glowing,

And a hundred there have ventured,

And a thousand there have perished,

Hundreds with their swords have perished,

And a thousand steel-clad heroes.”

Answered lively Lemminkainen,

Said the handsome Kaukomieli,

“Such a death no man will perish,

Nor is this a death for heroes,

For I know a trick already,

Know a trick, and see a refuge;

And a man of snow I’ll sing me,

Make of frozen snow a hero,

Push him in the raging fire,

Push him in the glowing torment,

Bathe him in the glowing bathroom,

With a bath-whisk made of copper,

I myself behind him pressing,

Pushing through the fire a pathway,

That my beard unburnt remaineth,

And my locks escape a singeing.

O my mother who hast borne me,

Of the third death tell me truly.”

Then said Lemminkainen’s mother,

“Such the third death that awaits you:

When you’ve gone a little further,

And another day have travelled,

Unto Pohjola’s dread gateway,

Where the pathway is the narrowest,

Then a wolf will rush upon you,