Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/258

Crooked are the jaws of salmon,
And the teeth of pike spread widely.
Yet again they sought a singer,
Went to seek a famous singer,
One whose voice was of the strongest,
One who knew the finest legends,540
And they took a child for singer,
Thought a boy might sing the strongest.
Singing is not work for children,
Nor are splutterers fit for shouting.
Crooked are the tongues of children,
And the roots thereof are crooked.
Then the red ale grew indignant,
And the fresh drink fell to cursing,
Pent within the oaken barrels,
And behind the taps of copper.550
“If you do not find a minstrel,
Do not firid a famous singer,
One whose voice is of the strongest,
One who knows the finest legends,
Then the hoops I’ll burst asunder,
And among the dust will trickle.”
Then did Pohjola’s old Mistress
Send the guests their invitations,
Sent her messengers to journey,
And she spoke the words which follow:560
“O my maid, of all the smallest,
O my waiting-maid obedient,
Call the people all together,
To the great carouse invite them,
Call the poor, and call the needy,
Call the blind, and call the wretched,
Call the lame, and call the cripples;
In the boat row thou the blind men;
Bring the lame ones here on horseback,
And in sledges bring the cripples.570
“Ask thou all the folk of Pohja,
And of Kaleva the people:
Ask the aged Väinämöinen,
Greatest he of all the minstrels,