Kalevala : the Epic Poem of Finland — Complete. Anonymous

Sister fair of Youkahainen,

       Hastened early to the forest,

       Birchen shoots for brooms to gather,

       Went to gather birchen tassels;

       Bound a bundle for her father,

       Bound a birch-broom for her mother,

       Silken tassels for her sister.

       Straightway then she hastened homeward,

       By a foot-path left the forest;

       As she neared the woodland border,

       Lo! the ancient Wainamoinen,

       Quickly spying out the maiden,

       As she left the birchen woodland,

       Trimly dressed in costly raiment,

       And the minstrel thus addressed her:

       "Aino, beauty of the Northland,

       Wear not, lovely maid, for others,

       Only wear for me, sweet maiden,

       Golden cross upon thy bosom,

       Shining pearls upon thy shoulders;

       Bind for me thine auburn tresses,

       Wear for me thy golden braidlets."

       Thus the maiden quickly answered:

       "Not for thee and not for others,

       Hang I from my neck the crosslet,

       Deck my hair with silken ribbons;

       Need no more the many trinkets

       Brought to me by ship or shallop;

       Sooner wear the simplest raiment,

       Feed upon the barley bread-crust,

       Dwell forever with my mother

       In the cabin with my father."

       Then she threw the gold cross from her,

       Tore the jewels from her fingers,

       Quickly loosed her shining necklace,

       Quick untied her silken ribbons,

       Cast them all away indignant

       Into forest ferns and flowers.

       Thereupon the maiden, Aino,

       Hastened to her mother's cottage.

       At the window sat her father

       Whittling on an oaken ax-helve:

       "Wherefore weepest, beauteous Aino,

       Aino, my beloved daughter?

       "Cause enough for weeping, father,

       Good the reasons for my mourning,

       This, the reason for my weeping,

       This, the cause of all my sorrow:

       From my breast I tore the crosslet,

       From my belt, the clasp of copper,

       From my waist, the belt of silver,

       Golden was my pretty crosslet."

       Near the door-way sat her brother,

       Carving out a birchen ox-bow:

       "Why art weeping, lovely Aino,

       Aino, my devoted sister?"

       "Cause enough for weeping, brother,

       Good the reasons for my mourning

       Therefore come I as thou seest,

       Rings no longer on my fingers,

       On my neck no pretty necklace;

       Golden were the rings thou gavest,

       And the necklace, pearls and silver!"

       On the threshold sat her sister,

       Weaving her a golden girdle:

       "Why art weeping, beauteous Aino,

       Aino, my beloved sister?"

       "Cause enough for weeping, sister,

       Good the reasons for my sorrow:

       Therefore come I as thou seest,

       On my head no scarlet fillet,

       In my hair no braids of silver,

       On mine arms no purple ribbons,

       Round my neck no shining necklace,

       On my breast no golden crosslet,

       In mine ears no golden ear-rings."

       Near the door-way of the dairy,

       Skimming cream, sat Aino's mother.

       "Why art weeping, lovely Aino,

       Aino, my devoted daughter?"

       Thus the sobbing maiden answered;

       "Loving mother, all-forgiving,

       Cause enough for this my weeping,

       Good the reasons for my sorrow,

       Therefore do I weep, dear mother:

       I have been within the forest,

       Brooms to bind and shoots to gather,

       There to pluck some birchen tassels;

       Bound a bundle for my father,

       Bound a second for my mother,

       Bound a third one for my brother,

       For my sister silken tassels.

       Straightway then I hastened homeward,

       By a foot-path left the forest;

       As I reached the woodland border

       Spake Osmoinen from the cornfield,

       Spake the ancient Wainamoinen:

       'Wear not, beauteous maid, for others,

       Only wear for me, sweet maiden,

       On thy breast a golden crosslet,

       Shining pearls upon thy shoulders,

       Bind for me thine auburn tresses,

       Weave for me thy silver braidlets.'

       Then I threw the gold-cross from me,

       Tore the jewels from my fingers,

       Quickly loosed my shining necklace,

       Quick untied my silken ribbons,

       Cast them all away indignant,

       Into forest ferns and flowers.

       Then I thus addressed the singer:

       'Not for thee and not for others,

       Hang I from my neck the crosslet,

       Deck my hair with silken ribbons;

       Need no more the many trinkets,

       Brought to me by ship and shallop;

       Sooner wear the simplest raiment,

       Feed upon the barley bread-crust,

       Dwell forever with my mother

       In the cabin with my father.'"

       Thus the gray-haired mother answered

       Aino, her beloved daughter:

       "Weep no more, my lovely maiden,

       Waste no more of thy sweet young-life;

       One year eat thou my sweet butter,

       It will make thee strong and ruddy;

       Eat another year fresh bacon,

       It will make thee tall and queenly;

       Eat a third year only dainties,

       It will make thee fair and lovely.

       Now make haste to yonder hill-top,

       To the store-house on the mountain,

       Open there the large compartment,