Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/41

Runo XXVII]

Then did Pohjola’s great Master,

Aim a blow, and tried to strike him,

Aimed his sword, but never struck it,

On the head of Lemminkainen.

Once indeed he struck the rafters,

And the beams resounded loudly,

And across the beam was shattered,

And the arch in twain was broken.

Then spoke Ahti Saarelainen,

Said the handsome Kaukomieli:

“Well, what mischief did the rafters,

And what harm the beam effected,

That you thus attack the rafters,

And have made the arch to rattle?

“Hear me, son of Pohja’s country,

Pohjola’s illustrious Master,

Awkward ’tis in room to combat,

Trouble would it give the women,

If the clean room should be damaged,

And with blood denied the flooring.

Let us go into the courtyard,

In the field outside to battle,

On the grass outside to combat.

In the yard the blood looks better,

In the yard it looks more lovely,

On the snow it looks much better.”

Out into the yard they wandered,

And they found therein a cowhide,

And they spread it in the courtyard,

And they took their stand upon it.

Then said Ahti Saarelainen,

“Hearken, O thou son of Pohja!

As your sword is rather longer,

And your sword is more terrific,

Perhaps indeed you need to use it,

Just before your own departure,

Or before your neck is broken.

Strike away, O son of Pohja.”

Fenced away the son of Pohja,

Struck a blow, and struck a second,