Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/244

232

And the aged Väinämöinen

Straight began a boat to fashion,

In the wood he worked upon it,

And beside him Ilmarinen

Made a rudder out of firwood,

Made it from a log of pinewood.

Thus the boat at length was ready,

Rowlocks, rudder all completed,

And they pushed it in the water,

And they rowed and steered it onward,

All along the river Neva,

Steering round the Cape of Neva.

Ilmatar, the lovely damsel,

Eldest Daughter of Creation,

Then advanced to meet the heroes,

And in words like these addressed them:

“Who among mankind may ye be?

By what names do people call you?”

Said the aged Väinämöinen,

“You may look on us as sailors.

I am aged Väinämöinen,

Ilmarinen, smith, is with me,

But inform us of your kindred;

By what name do people call you?“

Then the matron made them answer,

“I am oldest of all women,

Of the air the oldest damsel,

And the first of all the mothers.

Five times now have I been married,

Six times as a bride attired.

Whither do you take your journey,

Whither, heroes, are you going?”

Said the aged Väinämöinen,

And he spoke the words which follow:

“All our fires have been extinguished,

And their flames died down in darkness,

Long already were we fireless,

And in darkness were we hidden,

But at length have we determined

That the fire we ought to seek for,