Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v2.djvu/99

Runo XXXII]

“Go thou slouching through the meadow,

Go in secret through the pasture,

Slinking off when bells are ringing,

Shun the talking of the shepherds.

If the herd is on the heathland,

Then into the swamps retreat thou,

If the herd is in the marshes,

Then conceal thee in the thickets,

If the herd should climb the mountain,

Quickly then descend the mountain,

If the herd should wander downward,

Wander then along the mountain,

If they wander in the bushes,

To the thicker woods retreat thou,

If the thicker wood they enter,

Wander then into the bushes,

Wander like the golden cuckoo,

Like the dove of silver colour,

Move aside as moves the powan,

Glide away like fish in water,

As a flock of wool drifts sideways,

Or a roll of flax the lightest,

In thy fur thy claws conceal thou,

In thy gums thy teeth conceal thou,

That the herd thou dost not frighten,

Nor the little calves be injured.

“Let the cattle rest in quiet,

Leave in peace the hooféd cattle,

Let the herd securely wander,

Let them march in perfect order

Through the swamps and through the open,

Through the tangle of the forest,

Never do thou dare to touch them,

Nor to wickedly molest them.

“Keep the former oath thou sworest,

There by Tuonela’s deep river,

By the raging fall of water,

At the knees of the Creator.

Thou hast been indeed permitted,

Three times in the course of summer,