Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/280

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Reared her little golden apple,

And her little staff of silver,

And upon her lap she nursed it,

With her hands did she caress it.

On her knees she laid the infant,

On her lap she laid the infant,

And began to brush his hair straight,

And began to smooth his hair down,

When from off her knees he vanished,

From her lap the infant vanished.

Marjatta the hapless maiden

Fell into the greatest trouble,

And she hurried off to seek him,

Seek her little boy, the infant,

And she sought her golden apple,

Sought her little staff of silver,

Sought him underneath the millstones,

Underneath the sledge while running,

Underneath the sieve while sifting,

Underneath the lidless basket;

Trees she moved, and grass divided,

Spreading out the tender herbage.

Long the little boy she sought for,

Sought her son, the little infant,

Sought him through the hills and pinewoods,

On the heath among the heather,

Searched through every tuft of heather,

And in every bush she sought him,

Roots of juniper updigging,

And of trees the branches straightening.

Then she thought to wander further,

And she went upon her wanderings,

And there came a star to meet her,

And before the star she bowed her,

“Star, whom Jumala created,

Know you nothing of my infant,

Where my little son is hidden,

Where is hid my golden apple?”

And the star made answer to her:

“If I knew I would not tell it.