KALEVALA
Runo I.—Birth of Väinämöinen
Argument
Prelude (1–102). The Virgin of the Air descends into the sea, where she is fertilized by the winds and waves and becomes the Water-Mother (103–176). A teal builds its nest on her knee, and lays eggs (177–212). The eggs fall from the nest and break, but the fragments form the earth, sky, sun, moon and clouds (213–244). The Water-Mother creates capes, bays, sea-shores, and the depths and shallows of the ocean (245–280). Väinämöinen is born from the Water-Mother, and is tossed about by the waves for a long time until he reaches the shore (281–344).
I am driven by my longing,
And my understanding urges
That I should commence my singing,
And begin my recitation.
I will sing the people's legends,
And the ballads of the nation.
To my mouth the words are flowing,
And the words are gently falling,
Quickly as my tongue can shape them,
And between my teeth emerging. 10
Dearest friend, and much-loved brother,
Best beloved of all companions,
Come and let us sing together,
Let us now begin our converse,
Since at length we meet together,
From two widely sundered regions.
Rarely can we meet together,
Rarely one can meet the other,
In these dismal Northern regions,
In the dreary land of Pohja. 20
Let us clasp our hands together,
Let us interlock our fingers;
Let us sing a cheerful measure,
Let us use our best endeavours,
