Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/22

10

Said the lively Lemminkainen,

“Hard ’twill be in Pohja’s castle,

Rooms of Sariola the misty,

Such a sword as this to gaze on,

Such a sword-blade to encounter.”

From the wall his bow he lifted,

From the peg he took a strong bow,

And he spoke the words which follow,

And expressed himself in thiswise:

“I would hold the man deserving,

And regard him as a hero,

Who to bend this bow was able,

And could bend it and could string it,

There in Pohjola’s great castle,

Rooms of Sariola the misty.”

Then the lively Lemminkainen,

He the handsome Kaukomieli,

Put his shirt of mail upon him,

Clad himself in arms of battle,

And his slave he thus commanded,

And he spoke the words which follow:

“O my servant, bought with money,

Workman, whom I got for money,

Harness now my horse of battle,

Harness me my fiery war-horse,

That unto the feast I journey,

Drinking-bout at house of Lempo.”

Then the prudent slave, obedient,

Hastened quickly to the courtyard,

And the foal at once he harnessed,

And prepared the fiery red one,

And he said on his returning,

“I have done what you commanded,

And the horse have harnessed for you,

And the best of foals have harnessed.”

Then the lively Lemminkainen,

Thought him ready for his journey,

Right hand urging, left restraining,

And his sinewy fingers smarting,

Now would start, and then reflected,