Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/252

240

And its length was hundred fathoms,

And its breadth was hundreds seven;

Stones for weights were fastened to it,

Likewise proper floats provided.

With the net the youths were walking,

And at home the old men pondered,

Whether they would make a capture,

And secure the fish they wished for.

Then they drew the net and dragged it,

Much they toiled, and threshed the water,

Drew it lengthwise through the water,

Dragged it crosswise through the water,

Captured many little fishes,

Many luckless perch they captured,

Many bony perch they captured,

And a large-galled Redeye likewise,

But the fish they could not capture

That for which the net was fashioned.

Said the aged Väinämöinen,

“O thou smith, O Ilmarinen,

Let us now go forth together

Where the net is in the water.”

Thereupon went both the heroes,

And they drew it through the water,

And upon one side they spread it

Round the islands in the water,

And the other side directed,

Round about the promontories,

And the balance-pole was guided

Just as aged Väinö pushed it.

Thus they cast the net and pushed it,

And they drew the net and dragged it,

Captured fishes in abundance,

And they captured perch in plenty,

Salmon-trout in great abundance,

Bream and salmon too they captured,

All the fishes of the water,

Only not the fish they sought for,

That for which the net was woven,

And the ropes were fastened to it.