Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/89

Runo XXXI]

On the solid earth it rested,

Up among the clouds it towered.

Then he spoke the words which follow:

“For such labour he’s unsuited.

Here’s the fence without an opening,

And without a gateway through it.

Up to heaven the fence is builded,

To the very clouds uprising;

None can ever pass across it,

Pass within through any opening.

Now I know not where to send him,

Nor what work I ought to give him.

There is rye for threshing ready.”

So he sent him to the threshing.

Kullervo, Kalervo’s offspring,

Set himself to do the threshing,

And the rye to chaff he pounded,

Into very chaff he threshed it.

Soon thereafter came the master,

Strolling forth to gaze around him,

See how Kalervo’s son threshed it,

And how Kullervoinen pounded.

All the rye to chaff was pounded,

Into very chaff he’d threshed it.

Untamoinen then was angry.

“As a labourer he is useless.

Whatsoever work I give him,

All his work he spoils from malice.

Shall I take him into Russia,

Shall I sell him in Carelia,

To the smith named Ilmarinen,

That he there may wield the hammer?”

Kalervo’s son took he with him,

And he sold him in Carelia,

To the smith named Ilmarinen,

Skilful wielder of the hammer.

What then gave the smith in payment?

Great the payment that he made him;

For he gave two worn-out kettles,

And three halves of hooks he gave him,