Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/45

Runo XXVIII]

Then must lively Lemminkainen,

Then must Ahti Saarelainen,

Alter now his shape completely,

And transform without delaying,

And must soar aloft as eagle,

Up to heaven to soar attempting;

But the sun his face was scorching,

And the moon shone on his temples.

Then the lively Lemminkainen,

Sent aloft a prayer to Ukko:

“Ukko, Jumala most gracious,

Thou the wisest in the heavens,

Of the thunderclouds the leader,

Of the scattered clouds the ruler!

Let it now be gloomy weather,

And a little cloudlet give me,

So that under its protection

I may hasten homeward quickly,

Homeward to my dearest mother,

Unto the revered old woman.”

As he flew upon his journey,

As he chanced to look behind him,

There he saw a hawk, a grey one,

And its eyes were fiery-glowing,

As it were the son of Pohja,

Like the former lord of Pohja.

And the grey hawk called unto him,

“Ahti, O my dearest brother,

Think you on our former combat,

Head to head in equal contest?”

Then said Ahti Saarelainen,

Said the handsome Kaukomieli,

“O my hawk, my bird so charming,

Turn thyself and hasten homeward,

To the place from which you started,

To the gloomy land of Pohja.

Hard it is to catch the eagle,

Clutch the strong-winged bird with talons.”

Then he hurried quickly homeward,

Homeward to his dearest mother,

Rh