Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/40

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“None would let himself be banished,

Not a man, how bad soever,

From this place be ever driven,

Forced to fly from such a station.”

Then did Pohjola’s great Master,

Snatch his sword from wall where hanging,

Grasped in haste the sharpened weapon,

And he spoke the words which follow:

“O thou Ahti Saarelainen,

Or thou handsome Kaukomieli,

Let us match our swords together,

Match the glitter of the sword-blades,

Whether my sword is the better,

Or is Ahti Saarelainen’s.”

Said the lively Lemminkainen,

“Little of my sword is left me,

For on bones it has been shattered,

And on skulls completely broken!

But let this be as it may be,

If no better feast is ready,

Let us struggle, and determine

Which of our two swords is favoured.

Ne’er in former times my father

In a duel has been worsted,

Why should then his son be different,

Or his child be like a baby?”

Sword he took, and bared his sword-blade,

And he drew his sharp-edged weapon,

Drew it from the leather scabbard,

Hanging at his belt of lambskin.

Then they measured and inspected

Which of their two swords was longer,

And a very little longer,

Was the sword of Pohja’s Master,

As upon the nail the blackness,

Or a half-joint of a finger.

Spoke then Ahti Saarelainen,

Said the handsome Kaukomieli,

“As your sword is rather longer,

Let the first attack be yours.”