Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/31

Runo XXVI]

On the beach of stormy ocean,

On the beach, the waves that bounded,

On the beach they saw the spittle,

And they spoke the words which follow:

‘What might perhaps of this be fashioned,

If a life by the Creator,

And if eyes were granted to it?’

“This was heard by the Creator,

And he spoke the words which follow:

‘Evil only comes from evil,

And a toad from toad’s foul vomit,

If I gave a life unto it,

And if eyes were granted to it.’

“But the words were heard by Hiisi,

One for mischief always ready,

And he set about creating;

Hiisi gave a life unto it,

Of the slime of toad disgusting,

From Syöjätär’s filthy spittle,

Formed from this a twisting serpent,

To a black snake he transformed it.

“Whence the life he gave unto it?

Life he brought from Hiisi’s coal-heap.

Whence was then its heart created?

Out of Syöjätär’s own heartstrings.

Whence the brains for this foul creature?

From a mighty torrent’s foaming.

Whence its sense obtained the monster?

From a furious cataract’s foaming.

Whence a head, this foul enchantment?

From the bean, a bean all rotten.

Whence were then its eyes created?

From a seed of flax of Lempo.

Whence were the toad’s ears created?

From the leaves of Lempo’s birch-tree.

Whence was then its mouth constructed?

Syöjätär’s own mouth supplied it.

Whence the tongue in mouth so evil?

From the spear of Keitolainen.

Teeth for such an evil creature?