Kalevala : the Epic Poem of Finland — Volume 01 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 285 pages of information about Kalevala .

Kalevala : the Epic Poem of Finland — Volume 01 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 285 pages of information about Kalevala .
Sees the morning sun arising,
Glimmering along the billows,
Looks with eyes of distant vision
Toward the sunrise on the waters,
Toward the winding streams of Suomi,
Where the Wina-waves were flowing. 
There she sees, on the horizon,
Something darkle in the sunlight,
Something blue upon the billows,
Speaks these words in wonder guessing: 
What is this upon the surges,
What this blue upon the waters,
What this darkling in the sunlight? 
’Tis perhaps a flock of wild-geese,
Or perchance the blue-duck flying;
Then upon thy wings arising,
Fly away to highest heaven. 
“Art thou then a shoal of sea-trout,
Or perchance a school of salmon? 
Dive then to the deep sea-bottom,
In the waters swim and frolic. 
“Art thou then a cliff of granite,
Or perchance a mighty oak-tree,
Floating on the rough sea-billows? 
May the floods then wash and beat thee
Break thee to a thousand fragments.” 
Wainamoinen, sailing northward,
Steers his wondrous ship of magic
Toward the headland jutting seaward,
Toward the island forest-covered. 
Now Annikki, goodly maiden,
Sees it is the magic vessel
Of a wonderful enchanter,
Of a mighty bard and hero,
And she asks this simple question: 
“Art thou then my father’s vessel,
Or my brother’s ship of magic? 
Haste away then to thy harbor,
To thy refuge in Wainola. 
Hast thou come a goodly distance? 
Sail then farther on thy journey,
Point thy prow to other waters.” 
It was not her father’s vessel,
Not a sail-boat from the distance,
’Twas the ship of Wainamoinen,
Bark of the eternal singer;
Sails within a hailing distance,
Swims still nearer o’er the waters,
Brings one word and takes another,
Brings a third of magic import. 
Speaks the goodly maid, Annikki,
Of the Night and Dawn, the daughter,
To the sailor of the vessel: 
“Whither sailest, Wainamoinen,
Whither bound, thou friend of waters,
Pride and joy of Kalevala?”
From the vessel Wainamomen
Gives this answer to the maiden: 
“I have come to catch some sea-trout,
Catch the young and toothsome whiting,
Hiding in tbese-reeds and rushes.” 
This the answer of Annikki: 
“Do not speak to me in falsehood,
Know I well the times of fishing;
Long ago my honored father
Was a fisherman in Northland,
Came to catch the trout and whiting,
Fished within these seas and rivers. 
Very well do I remember
How the fisherman disposes,
How he rigs his fishing vessel,
Lines, and gaffs, and poles, and fish-nets;
Hast not come a-fishing hither. 
Whither goest, Wainamoinen,
Whither sailest, friend of waters? 
Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: 
“I have come to catch some wild-geese,
Catch the hissing birds of Suomi,
In these far-extending borders,
In the Sachsensund dominions.” 
Good Annikki gives this answer: 
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Kalevala : the Epic Poem of Finland — Volume 01 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.