Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/235

Runo XLVI]

“On the heath there grew a pine-tree,

On the hill there rose a fir-tree,

And the pine had silver branches,

And the fir-tree golden branches.

With her hands she plucked the branches,

And from these the claws constructed,

Others fixed in Otso’s jawbones,

In his gums securely fixed them.

“Forth she sent the shaggy creature,

Sent her darling forth to wander,

Let him wander through the marshes,

Let him wander through the forest,

Walk along the woodland’s borders,

Step along across the heathland,

And she bade him walk discreetly,

And to march along demurely,

And to live a life of pleasure,

And upon fine days to wander,

Through the plains and o’er the marshes,

Past the heaths where men are dancing,

Wandering shoeless in the summer,

Wandering sockless in the autumn,

Resting in the worst of weather,

Idling in the cold of winter,

In a hollow stump of cherry,

In the castle of the pine-trees,

At the foot of beauteous fir-trees,

’Mid the junipers close-growing,

Underneath five woollen mantles,

’Neath eight mantles was he hidden,

And from thence I fetched my booty,

There I found it on my journey.”

Then the younger people asked him,

And the old folks asked him likewise:

“Wherefore was the wood so gracious,

Gracious wood, and forest lavish,

And the greenwood’s lord so joyous,

So propitious friendly Tapio,

That he thus his pet has given,

And resigned the honey-eater?