Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/175

Runo XLI]

To the kantele to listen,

That she might enjoy the music.

And the birds of air assembled,

Those upon two wings that raise them,

Backwards sailing, forwards sailing,

And with all their speed came flying,

Swift to listen to the music,

All in wonder and rejoicing.

When the eagle in his eyry,

Heard the sweet tones sound from Suomi,

In the nest she left her fledgelings,

And she hovered round to listen

To the gallant hero’s playing,

And to Väinämöinen’s singing.

High in air there soared the eagle,

Through the clouds the hawk was sailing,

Came the ducks from deepest waters,

Came the swans from snow-wreathed marshes,

And the smallest of the finches,

All the twittering birds assembled,

Singing-birds flocked round by hundreds,

And in thousands they assembled

In the air, and heard delighted,

And alighted on his shoulders,

All rejoicing in the patriarch,

And in Väinämöinen’s playing.

E’en the Daughters of Creation,

Of the air the charming maidens,

Gathered to rejoice and wonder,

To the kantele to listen.

Some on arch of air were seated,

Seated on the dazzling rainbow,

Some on little clouds were seated,

Resting on their crimson borders.

Then were Kuutar, slender damsel;

Päivätär, that maid accomplished;

Casting with their hands the shuttle,

Drawing threads that they were weaving,

As they wove a golden fabric,

And they wove the threads of silver,