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Give the cows their milk-filled udders

Always filled to overflowing,

To be milked by dwarfish women,

That a little girl may milk them.

“Rise, O virgin, from the valley,

From the spring, in gorgeous raiment,

From the spring, O maiden, rise thou,

From the ooze arise, O fairest.

From the spring take thou some water,

Sprinkle thou my cattle with it,

That the cattle may be finer,

And the mistress’ cattle prosper,

Ere the coming of the mistress,

Ere the herd-girl look upon them,

She, the most unskilful mistress,

And the very timid herd-girl.

“Mielikki, the forest’s mistress,

Of the herds the bounteous mother,

Send the tallest of thy handmaids,

And the best among thy servants,

That they may protect my cattle,

And my herd be watched and tended

Through the finest of the summer,

In the good Creator’s summer,

Under Jumala’s protection,

And protected by his favour.

“Tellervo, O maid of Tapio,

Little daughter of the forest,

Clad in soft and beauteous garments,

With thy yellow hair so lovely,

Be the guardian of the cattle,

Do thou guard the mistress’ cattle

All through Metsola so lovely,

And through Tapiola’s bright regions

Do thou guard the herd securely,

Do thou watch the herd unsleeping.

“With thy lovely hands protect them,

With thy slender fingers stroke them,

Rub them with the skins of lynxes,

Comb them with the fins of fishes,