Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/179

Runo XLI]

’Mid these high-descended people,

Not a darling child of father,

Who the tears you shed can gather,

From beneath the sparkling water.”

Then the aged Väinämöinen,

Spoke again in words that follow:

“He who brings my tears unto me,

And the tears again can gather,

From beneath the sparkling waters,

Shall receive a dress of feathers.”

Forth there came a raven passing;

Said the aged Väinämöinen:

“Bring me now my tears, O raven,

From beneath the sparkling water,

And receive the dress of feathers.”

But the raven could not do it.

And the blue duck heard him likewise,

And the blue duck next came forward.

Said the aged Väinämöinen:

“Often, blue duck, does it happen

That thy beak thou plungest downward,

As thou speedest through the water.

Go thou forth my tears to gather,

From beneath the sparkling water,

Bounteous guerdon will I give thee,

And will give a dress of feathers.”

Then the duck went forth to seek them,

Seek the tears of Väinämöinen,

Underneath the sparkling water,

On the black ooze of the bottom.

In the lake she found the tear-drops,

And to Väinö’s hands she brought them,

But they were transformed already,

Suffered beauteous transformation.

Into pearls were they developed,

Like the blue pearls of the mussel,

Fit for every king’s adornment,

To the great a lifelong pleasure.