Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/230

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And the people gave him answer,

Shouted all the handsome people,

“Better lead our guest illustrious,

And conduct our golden beauty

Underneath these famous rafters,

Underneath this roof so handsome.

There is food arranged for eating,

There is drink poured out for drinking,

All the floors have there been dusted,

And the floors been swept most cleanly,

All the women finely dressed them,

In their very finest garments,

Donned their head-dresses the finest,

In their brightest robes arrayed them.”

Then the aged Väinämöinen

Spoke aloud the words which follow:

“O my Otso, O my birdling,

O my charge, with paws of honey,

Still there’s ground for thee to walk on,

And upon the heath to wander.

“Golden one, go forth to wander,

Dear one, range about the country,

Forth to march with sable stockings,

Wander in thy cloth-made trousers,

On the pathway of the titmouse,

And the path where sparrows wander,

Underneath five rafters straying,

Underneath six roof-trees walking.

“Now be careful, luckless woman,

That the herd may not be frightened,

Terrified the little cattle,

Nor the mistress’ calves be frightened,

If the bear approach the homestead,

And his shaggy jaws should seize them.

“Now, ye boys, the porch abandon,

Girls, depart ye from the door-posts,

To the house there comes the hero,

And the pride of men approaches.

“Otso, apple of the forest,

Fair and bulky forest dweller,