Page:Kalevala (Kirby 1907) v1.djvu/269

Like a sledge in sand embedded,
Or a boat on rocks when stranded.”
Then the aged Väinämöinen
In such words as these expressed him:
“If no other bard comes forward
To accompany my singing,
Then alone my songs I’ll carol,
And will now commence my singing,
For to sing was I created,
As an orator was fashioned;360
How, I ask not in the village,
Nor I learn my songs from strangers.”
Then the aged Väinämöinen
Of the song the lifelong pillar,
Set him to the pleasant labour,
Girt him for the toil of singing,
Loud he sang his songs so pleasing,
Loud he spoke his words of wisdom.
Sang the aged Väinämöinen,
Sang by turns, and spoke his wisdom,370
Nor did words that suited fail him,
Neither were his songs exhausted,
Sooner stones in rocks were missing,
Or a pond lacked water-lilies.
Therefore thus sang Väinämöinen
Through the evening for their pleasure,
And the women all were laughing,
And the men in high good-humour,
While they listened and they wondered
At the chants of Väinämöinen,380
For amazement filled the hearers,
Wonder those who heard him singing.
Said the aged Väinämöinen,
When at length his song he ended,
“This is what I have accomplished
As a singer and magician,
Little can I thus accomplish,
And my efforts lead me nowhere:
But, if sang the great Creator,
Speaking with his mouth of sweetness,390