Kalevala : the Epic Poem of Finland — Complete eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 494 pages of information about Kalevala .

Kalevala : the Epic Poem of Finland — Complete eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 494 pages of information about Kalevala .
Where the eagles scream at day-break. 
When I yield my life forever,
Bravely will I fall in battle,
Fall upon the field of glory,
Beautiful to die in armor,
And the clang and clash of armies,
Beautiful the strife for conquest! 
Thus Kullervo soon will hasten
To the kingdom of Tuoni,
To the realm of the departed,
Undeformed by wasting sickness.” 
This the answer of the mother: 
“If thou diest in the conflict,
Who will stay to guard thy father,
Who will give thy sire protection?”
These the words of Kullerwoinen: 
“Let him die upon the court-yard,
Sleeping out his life of sorrow!”
“Who then will protect thy mother,
Be her shield in times of danger?”
“Let her die within the stable,
Or the cabin where she lingers!”
“Who then will defend thy brother,
Give him aid in times of trouble?”
“Let him die within the forest,
Sleep his life away unheeded!”
“Who will comfort then thy sister,
Who will aid her in affliction?”
“Let her sink beneath the waters,
Perish in the crystal fountain,
Where the brook flows on in beauty,
Like a silver serpent winding
Through the valley to the ocean!”
Thereupon the wild Kullervo
Hastens from his home to battle,
To his father speaks, departing: 
“Fare thou well, my aged father! 
Wilt thou weep for me, thy hero,
When thou hearest I have perished,
Fallen from thy tribe forever,
Perished on the field of glory?”
Thus the father speaks in answer: 
“I shall never mourn the downfall
Of my evil son, Kullervo;
Shall not weep when thou hast perished;
Shall beget a second hero
That will do me better service,
That will think and act in wisdom.” 
Kullerwoinen gives this answer: 
“Neither shall I mourn thy downfall,
Shall not weep when thou hast perished;
I shall make a second father,
Make the head from loam and sandstone,
Make the eyes from swamp-land berries,
Make the beard from withered sea-grass,
Make the feet from roots of willow,
Make the form from birch-wood fungus.” 
Thereupon the youth, Kullervo,
To his brother speaks as follows: 
“Fare thou well, beloved brother! 
Wilt thou weep for me departed,
Shouldst thou hear that I have perished,
Fallen on the field of battle?”
This the answer of the brother: 
“I shall never mourn the downfall
Of my brother, Kullerwoinen,
Shall not weep when thou hast perished;
I shall find a second brother ’
Find one worthier and wiser!”
This is Kullerwoinen’s answer: 
“Neither shall I mourn thy downfall,
Shall not weep when thou hast perished;
I shall form a second brother,
Make the head from dust and ashes,
Make the eyes from pearls of ocean,
Make the beard from withered verdure,
Make the form from pulp of birch-wood.” 
To his sister speaks Kullervo: 
“Fare thou well, beloved sister! 
Surely thou wilt mourn my downfall,
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Project Gutenberg
Kalevala : the Epic Poem of Finland — Complete from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.