Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/182

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Bade them all to aim their weapons

At the head of Väinämöinen.

Väinämöinen, old and steadfast,

Took the kantele and played it,

Down he sat and played upon it,

And began a tune delightful.

All who listened to his playing

Heard it with delight and wonder,

And the men were all delighted,

And the women’s mouths were laughing.

Tears from heroes’ eyes were falling,

Boys upon the ground were kneeling.

At the last their strength forsook them,

And the people all were wearied,

All the listeners sank in slumber,

On the ground sank all beholders,

Slept the old and slept the youthful,

All at Väinämöinen’s playing.

Then the crafty Väinämöinen,

He the great primeval minstrel,

Put his hand into his pocket,

And he drew his purse from out it,

And sleep-needles took he from it,

And their eyes he plunged in slumber,

And their eyelashes crossed tightly,

Locked their eyelids close together,

Sank the people all in slumber.

Into sleep he plunged the heroes,

And they sank in lasting slumber,

And he plunged in lasting slumber

All the host of Pohja’s people,

All the people of the village.

Then he went to fetch the Sampo,

And behold its pictured cover,

There in Pohjola’s stone mountain,

And within the hill of copper.

Nine the locks that there secured it,

Bars secured it, ten in number.

Then the aged Väinämöinen

Gently set himself to singing