Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/186

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O’er the sparkling water’s surface,

O’er the surface of the billows.

Said the lively Lemminkainen,

“Formerly when I was rowing,

There was water for the rowers,

There was singing for the minstrels,

But at present time, when rowing,

Nothing do we hear of singing,

In the boat we hear no singing,

On the waves we hear no chanting.”

Väinämöinen, old and steadfast,

Answered in the words which follow:

“Do not sing upon the waters,

Do not chant upon the billows;

Singing brings the boat to halting,

Songs would but impede the rowing,

Then would wane the golden daylight,

And the night descend upon us,

On the wide expanse of water,

On the surface of the billows.”

Then the lively Lemminkainen

Answered in the words which follow:

“Anyway, the time is passing,

Fades away the lovely daylight,

And the night is swift approaching,

And the twilight comes upon us,

Though no song our life enlivens,

Nor the time is given to chanting.”

Steered the aged Väinämöinen

O’er the blue lake’s shining water,

And he steered one day, a second,

And at length upon the third day.

Then the lively Lemminkainen

For a second time inquired,

“Wherefore sing not, Väinämöinen?

O thou great one, sing unto us!

We have won the splendid Sampo;

Straight the course that now we follow.”

Väinämöinen, old and steadfast,

Gave him a decided answer: