Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/178

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They were tears than cranberries larger,

They were tears than peas much larger,

Then the eggs of grouse still rounder,

Larger than the heads of swallows.

From his eyes there fell the tear-drops,

Others followed after others,

Tears upon his cheeks were falling,

Down upon his cheeks so handsome,

Rolling from his cheeks so handsome,

Down upon his chin’s expansion.

Rolling from his chin’s expansion,

Down upon his panting bosom,

Rolling from his panting bosom,

Down upon his strong knee’s surface,

Rolling from his strong knee’s surface

Down upon his feet so handsome,

Rolling from his feet so handsome,

Down upon the ground beneath them,

And five woollen cloaks were soaking,

Likewise six of gilded girdles,

Seven blue dresses too were soaking,

And ten overcoats were soaking.

And the tear-drops still were falling,

From the eyes of Väinämöinen,

Till they reached the blue lake’s margin,

Overflowed the blue lake’s margin,

Down below the sparkling water,

To the black ooze at the bottom.

Then the aged Väinämöinen

Spoke aloud the words which follow:

“Is there in this youthful party,

’Mid the young and fair here gathered,

’Mid these high-descended people,

Any darling child of father,

Who the tears I shed can gather,

From beneath the sparkling water?”

And the young folks gave him answer,

And the old folks likewise answered:

“There are none among the youthful,

In this young and fair assemblage,