Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/86

74

For your waist a pretty girdle,

Or upon your ear a buffet.”

So when Kullervo was taller,

And had grown about a span-length,

Then he found some work to give him,

That he should prepare to labour.

’Twas to rock a little infant,

Rock a child with little fingers.

“Watch with every care the infant,

Give it food, and eat some also,

Wash his napkins in the river,

Wash his little clothes and cleanse them.”

So he watched one day, a second,

Broke his hands, and gouged his eyes out,

And at length upon the third day,

Let the infant die of sickness,

Cast the napkins in the river,

And he burned the baby’s cradle.

Untamo thereon reflected,

“Such a one is quite unfitted

To attend to little children,

Rock the babes with little fingers.

Now I know not where to send him,

Nor what work I ought to give him.

Perhaps he ought to clear the forest?”

So he went to clear the forest.

Kullervo, Kalervo’s offspring

Answered in the words which follow:

“Now I first a man can deem me,

When my hands the axe are wielding.

I am handsomer to gaze on,

Far more noble than aforetime,

Five men’s strength I feel within me

And I equal six in valour.”

Then he went into the smithy,

And he spoke the words which follow:

“O thou smith, my dearest brother,

Forge me now a little hatchet,

Such an axe as fits a hero,

Iron tool for skilful workman,