Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/264

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And he looked about and listened,

Seeking thus for information.

“On the river’s other margin,

Is a stately hero marching.”

Then the aged Väinämöinen

Once again commenced his shouting.

“Bring a boat, O son of Pohja,

Bring a boat for Väinämöinen.”

Answer made the son of Pohja,

And in words like these responded:

“Here the boats are never ready;

You to row must use your fingers,

And must use your hands for rudder,

Crossing Pohjola’s deep river.”

Then the aged Väinämöinen

Pondered deeply and reflected,

“Not as man should he be reckoned

Who retreats upon his pathway.”

Like a pike in lake then plunging,

Powan-like in sluggish river,

Through the sound he swam right quickly,

Speedily the strait he traversed,

And he moved one foot, a second,

And he reached the shore of Pohja.

Then spoke out the sons of Pohja,

And the evil army shouted:

“Go into the yard of Pohja,”

And on this the yard he entered.

Then exclaimed the sons of Pohja,

And the evil army shouted:

“Enter now the house of Pohja.”

And on this the house he entered,

On the floor his foot he planted,

Grasped he the door-handle firmly,

Forced his way into the dwelling,

And beneath the roof he entered,

There the men the mead were drinking,

And the honey-drink imbibing.

All the men with swords were girded,

And the heroes aimed their weapons