Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/225

Runo XLVI]

That he slay no more my geldings,

Nor shall fall upon my brood-mares,

Neither shall destroy my cattle,

Or attempt my cows to injure.”

Then the smith a spear constructed,

Not a long one, not a short one,

But of middle length he forged it.

On the blade a wolf was sitting,

On the edge a bear was standing,

At the joint an elk was trotting,

On the shaft a colt was running,

At the end a reindeer leaping.

Then fresh snow was gently falling,

And a little snow had drifted

As it drifts in early autumn,

White as is the hare in winter.

Said the aged Väinämöinen,

And he spoke the words which follow:

“Now my inclination leads me

Unto Metsola to travel;

To the forest’s daughter’s dwelling,

And to the Blue Maiden’s homestead.

Leaving men, I seek the forest,

Heroes leave, for distant regions.

Take me as thy man, O forest,

Take me, Tapio, for thy hero.

May good fortune now be granted,

And to fell the forest-beauty.

“Mielikki, the forest’s Mistress,

Tellervo, the wife of Tapio,

Do thou bind thy dogs securely,

Do thou keep thy whelps in order,

In the paths, ’mid honeysuckle,

And beneath the roof of oakwood.

“Otso, apple of the forest,

O thou lazy honey-pawed one!

If thou hearest me approaching,

Hearest me, the hero, coming,

In thy hair thy claws conceal thou,

In thy gums thy teeth conceal thou,