Kalevala : the Epic Poem of Finland — Complete. Anonymous

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       Scrapes the sweepings well together

       On a shovel made of copper,

       Carries them beyond the stable,

       From the doorway to the meadow,

       To the meadow's distant border,

       Near the surges of the great-sea,

       Listens there and looks about her,

       Hears a wailing from the waters,

       Hears a weeping from the sea-shore,

       Hears a hero-voice lamenting.

       Thereupon she hastens homeward,

       Hastens to her mother's dwelling,

       These the words the maiden utters:

       "I have heard a wail from ocean,

       Heard a weeping from the sea-coast,

       On the shore some one lamenting."

       Louhi, hostess of Pohyola,

       Ancient, toothless dame of Northland,

       Hastens from her door and court-yard,

       Through the meadow to the sea-shore,

       Listens well for sounds of weeping,

       For the wail of one in sorrow;

       Hears the voice of one in trouble,

       Hears a hero-cry of anguish.

       Thus the ancient Louhi answers:

       "This is not the wail of children,

       These are not the tears of women,

       In this way weep bearded heroes;

       This the hero-cry of anguish."

       Quick she pushed her boat to water,

       To the floods her goodly vessel,

       Straightway rows with lightning swiftness,

       To the weeping Wainamoinen;

       Gives the hero consolation,

       Comfort gives she to the minstrel

       Wailing in a grove of willows,

       In his piteous condition,

       Mid the alder-trees and aspens,

       On the border of the salt-sea,

       Visage trembling, locks dishevelled.

       Ears, and eyes, and lips of sadness.

       Louhi, hostess of Pohyola,

       Thus addresses Wainamoinen:

       "Tell me what has been thy folly,

       That thou art in this condition."

       Old and truthful Wainamoinen

       Lifts aloft his bead and answers:

       "Well I know that it is folly

       That has brought me all this trouble,

       Brought me to this land of strangers,

       To these regions unbefitting

       Happy was I with my kindred,

       In my distant home and country,

       There my name was named in honor."

       Louhi, hostess of Pohyola,

       Thus replied to Wainamoinen:

       "I would gain the information,

       Should I be allowed to ask thee,

       Who thou art of ancient heroes,

       Who of all the host of heroes?

       This is Wainamoinen's answer:

       "Formerly my name was mentioned,

       Often was I heard and honored,

       As a minstrel and magician,

       In the long and dreary winters,

       Called the 'Singer of the Northland,

       In the valleys of Wainola,

       On the plains of Kalevala;

       No one thought that such misfortune

       Could befall wise Wainamoinen."

       Louhi, hostess of Pohyola,

       Thus replied in cheering accents

       "Rise, O hero, from discomfort,

       From thy bed among the willows;

       Enter now upon the new-way,

       Come with me to yonder dwelling,

       There relate thy strange adventures,

       Tell the tale of thy misfortunes."

       Now she takes the hapless hero,

       Lifts him from his bed of sorrow,

       In her boat she safely seats him,

       And begins at once her rowing,

       Rows with steady hand and mighty

       To her home upon the sea-shore,

       To the dwellings of Pohyola.

       There she feeds the starving hero,

       Rests the ancient Wainamoinen,

       Gives him warmth, and food, and shelter,

       And the hero soon recovers.

       Then the hostess of Pohyola

       Questioned thus the ancient singer:

       "Wherefore didst thou, Wainamoinen,

       Friend and fellow of the waters,

       Weep in sad and bitter accents,

       On the border of the ocean,

       Mid the aspens and the willows?"

       This is Wainamoinen's answer:

       Had good reason for my weeping,

       Cause enough for all my sorrow;

       Long indeed had I been swimming,

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