Such distress should fall upon me,
Such distress should overwhelm me,
As upon my head has fallen,
Laid upon my hands such burdens."850
Runo XXIV.—The Departure of the Bride and Bridegroom
Argument
The bridegroom is instructed how he should behave towards his bride, and is cautioned not to treat her badly (1-264). An old beggar relates how he once brought his wife to reason (265-296). The bride remembers with tears that she is now quitting her dear birthplace for the rest of her life, and says farewell to all (297-462). Ilmarinen lifts his bride into the sledge and reaches his home on the evening of the third day (463-528).
Now the girl had well been lectured,
And the bride had been instructed;
Let me now address my brother,
Let me lecture now the bridegroom.
“Bridegroom, dearest of my brothers,
Thou the best of all my brothers,
Dearest of my mother’s children,
Gentlest of my father’s children,
Listen now to what I tell thee,
What I speak and what I tell thee,10
Of thy linnet who awaits thee,
And the dove that thou hast captured.
“Bridegroom, bless thy happy fortune,
For the fair one granted to thee,
When thou praisest, praise thou loudly,
Loudly praise the good that’s granted,
Loudly praise thou thy Creator,
For the gracious gift He granted,
And her father praise thou also,
Even more her mother praise thou,20
