Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/53

Runo XXIX]

Say that I have fled before them,

And have taken my departure,

And I have laid waste my clearing,

That which I had reaped so lately.”

Then he pushed his boat in water,

On the waves he launched his vessel,

From the rollers steel he launched it,

From the haven lined with copper.

On the mast the sails he hoisted,

And he spread the sails of linen,

At the stern himself he seated,

And prepared him for his journey,

Sitting by his birchwood rudder,

With the stern-oar deftly steering.

Then he spoke the words which follow,

And in words like these expressed him:

“Wind, inflate the sails above me,

Wind of spring drive on the vessel,

Drive with speed the wooden vessel,

Onward drive the boat of pinewood

Forward to the nameless island,

And the nameless promontory.”

So the wind the bark drove onward,

O’er the foaming lake ’twas driven,

O’er the bright expanse of water,

Speeding o’er the open water,

Rocking while two moons were changing,

Till a third was near its ending.

At the cape were maidens sitting,

There upon the blue lake’s margin

They were gazing, and were casting

Glances o’er the azure billows.

One was waiting for her brother,

And another for her father,

But the others all were waiting,

Waiting each one for a lover.

In the distance spied they Kauko,

Sooner still the boat of Kauko,

Like a little cloud in distance,

Just between the sky and water.