Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/211

Runo XLIV]

Gold from out their mouths was flowing,

Silver too they scattered round them,

On a hill the gold was flowing,

On the ground there flowed the silver,

And from this he made the harp-screws,

And the pegs from that provided.

Said the aged Väinämöinen

In the very words which follow:

“Now the harp-screws are constructed,

And the harp-pegs are provided.

Something even now is wanting,

And five strings as yet are needed.

How shall I provide the harp-strings,

Which shall yield the notes in playing?”

Then he went to seek for harp-strings,

And along the heath he wandered.

On the heath there sat a maiden,

Sat a damsel in the valley,

And the maiden was not weeping,

Neither was she very joyful.

To herself she sang full softly,

Sang, that soon might come the evening,

Hoping for her lover’s coming,

For the dear one she had chosen.

Väinämöinen, old and steadfast,

Crept without his shoes towards her,

Sprang to her without his stockings,

And as soon as he approached her,

He besought her hair to give him,

And he spoke the words which follow:

“Give thy hair to me, O maiden,

Give me of thy hair, O fair one,

Give me hair to form my harp-strings,

For the tones of lasting pleasure.”

Then her hair the maiden gave him,

From her soft locks hair she gave him,

And she gave him five and six hairs,

Seven the hairs she gave unto him,

That he thus might form his harp-strings,

For the tones of lasting pleasure.