Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/50

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“Didst thou roam as wolf in forest,

Or a bear in rugged country,

There might still misfortune find thee,

Evil fate might rise against thee;

If a sooty tramp was passing,

He perchance might spear the growler,

Or the wolves bring to destruction,

And the forest bears might slaughter.”

Then the lively Lemminkainen

Answered in the words which follow:

“I myself know evil places,

Worst of all do I esteem them,

There where any death might seize me,

And at last destruction reach me.

O my mother who hast reared me,

Mother who thy milk hast given,

Whither would’st thou bid me hide me,

Whither should I now conceal me?

Death’s wide jaws are just before me,

At my beard destruction’s standing,

Every day for me it waiteth,

Till my ruin is accomplished.”

Then said Lemminkainen’s mother,

And she spoke the words which follow:

“I can tell the best of places,

Tell you one the best of any,

Where to hide yourself completely,

And your crime conceal for ever,

For I know a little country,

Know a very little refuge,

Wasted not, and safe from battle,

And untrodden by the swordsmen.

Swear me now by oaths eternal,

Binding, free from all deception,

In the course of sixty summers,

Nevermore to go to battle,

Neither for the love of silver,

Nor perchance if gold was needed.”

Then said lively Lemminkainen,

“Now I swear by oaths the strongest,