Chapter XVI: Part 16

Quick the hapless virgin-mother, Outcast from her father’s dwelling, Gathered up her flowing raiment, Grasped a broom of birchen branches, Hastened forth in pain and sorrow To the stable in the woodlands, On the heights of Tapio’s mountains, Spake these words in supplication: “Come, I pray thee, my Creator, Only friend in times of trouble, Come to me and bring protection To thy child, the virgin-mother, To the maiden, Mariatta, In this hour of sore affliction. Come to me, benignant Ukko, Come, thou only hope and refuge, Lest thy guiltless child should perish, Die the death of the unworthy!”

When the virgin, Mariatta, Had arrived within the stable Of the flaming horse of Hisi, She addressed the steed as follows: “Breathe, O sympathizing fire-horse, Breathe on me, the virgin-mother, Let thy heated breath give moisture, Let thy pleasant warmth surround me, Like the vapor of the morning; Let this pure and helpless maiden Find a refuge in thy manger!”

Thereupon the horse, in pity, Breathed the moisture of his nostrils On the body of the virgin, Wrapped her in a cloud of vapor, Gave her warmth and needed comforts, Gave his aid to the afflicted, To the virgin, Mariatta.

There the babe was born and cradled Cradled in a woodland-manger, Of the virgin, Mariatta, Pure as pearly dews of morning, Holy as the stars in heaven. There the mother rocks her infant, In his swaddling clothes she wraps him, Lays him in her robes of linen; Carefully the babe she nurtures, Well she guards her much-beloved, Guards her golden child of beauty, Her beloved gem of silver.

But alas! the child has vanished, Vanished while the mother slumbered. Mariatta, lone and wretched, Fell to weeping, broken-hearted, Hastened off to seek her infant. Everywhere the mother sought him, Sought her golden child of beauty, Her beloved gem of silver; Sought him underneath the millstone, In the sledge she sought him vainly, Underneath the sieve she sought him, Underneath the willow-basket, Touched the trees, the grass she parted, Long she sought her golden infant, Sought him on the fir-tree-mountain, In the vale, and hill, and heather; Looks within the clumps of flowers, Well examines every thicket, Lifts the juniper and willow, Lifts the branches of the alder.

Lo! a star has come to meet her, And the star she thus beseeches: “O, thou guiding-star of Northland, Star of hope, by God created, Dost thou know and wilt thou tell me Where my darling child has wandered, Where my holy babe lies hidden?” Thus the star of Northland answers: “If I knew, I would not tell thee; ’Tis thy child that me created, Set me here to watch at evening, In the cold to shine forever, Here to twinkle in the darkness.”

Comes the golden Moon to meet her, And the Moon she thus beseeches: “Golden Moon, by Ukko fashioned, Hope and joy of Kalevala, Dost thou know and wilt thou tell me Where my darling child has wandered, Where my holy babe lies hidden?” Speaks the golden Moon in answer: “If I knew I would not tell thee; ’Tis thy child that me created, Here to wander in the darkness, All alone at eve to wander On my cold and cheerless journey, Sleeping only in the daylight, Shining for the good of others.”

Thereupon the virgin-mother Falls again to bitter weeping, Hastens on through fen and forest, Seeking for her babe departed.

Comes the silver Sun to meet her, And the Sun she thus addresses: “Silver Sun by Ukko fashioned, Source of light and life to Northland, Dost thou know and wilt thou tell me Where my darling child has wandered, Where my holy babe lies hidden?” Wisely does the Sun make answer: “Well I know thy babe’s dominions, Where thy holy child is sleeping, Where Wainola’s light lies hidden; ’Tis thy child that me created, Made me king of earth and ether, Made the Moon and Stars attend me, Set me here to shine at midday, Makes me shine in silver raiment, Lets me sleep and rest at evening; Yonder is thy golden infant, There thy holy babe lies sleeping, Hidden to his belt in water, Hidden in the reeds and rushes.”

Mariatta, child of beauty, Virgin-mother of the Northland, Straightway seeks her babe in Swamp-land, Finds him in the reeds and rushes; Takes the young child on her bosom To the dwelling of her father.

There the infant grew in beauty, Gathered strength, and light, and wisdom, All of Suomi saw and wondered. No one knew what name to give him; When the mother named him, Flower, Others named him, Son-of-Sorrow.

When the virgin, Mariatta, Sought the priesthood to baptize him, Came an old man, Wirokannas, With a cup of holy water, Bringing to the babe his blessing; And the gray-beard spake as follows: “I shall not baptize a wizard, Shall not bless a black-magician With the drops of holy water; Let the young child be examined, Let us know that he is worthy, Lest he prove the son of witchcraft.”

Thereupon old Wirokannas Called the ancient Wainamoinen, The eternal wisdom-singer, To inspect the infant-wonder, To report him good or evil.

Wainamoinen, old and faithful, Carefully the child examined, Gave this answer to his people: “Since the child is but an outcast, Born and cradled in a manger, Since the berry is his father; Let him lie upon the heather, Let him sleep among the rushes, Let him live upon the mountains; Take the young child to the marshes, Dash his head against the birch-tree.”

Then the child of Mariatta, Only two weeks old, made answer: “O, thou ancient Wainamoinen, Son of Folly and Injustice, Senseless hero of the Northland, Falsely hast thou rendered judgment. In thy years, for greater follies, Greater sins and misdemeanors, Thou wert not unjustly punished. In thy former years of trouble, When thou gavest thine own brother, For thy selfish life a ransom, Thus to save thee from destruction, Then thou wert not sent to Swamp-land To be murdered for thy follies. In thy former years of sorrow, When the beauteous Aino perished In the deep and boundless blue-sea, To escape thy persecutions, Then thou wert not evil-treated, Wert not banished by thy people.”

Thereupon old Wirokannas, Of the wilderness the ruler, Touched the child with holy water, Gave the wonder-babe his blessing, Gave him rights of royal heirship, Free to live and grow a hero, To become a mighty ruler, King and Master of Karyala.

As the years passed Wainamoinen Recognized his waning powers, Empty-handed, heavy-hearted, Sang his farewell song to Northland, To the people of Wainola; Sang himself a boat of copper, Beautiful his bark of magic; At the helm sat the magician, Sat the ancient wisdom-singer. Westward, westward, sailed the hero O’er the blue-back of the waters, Singing as he left Wainola, This his plaintive song and echo: “Suns may rise and set in Suomi, Rise and set for generations, When the North will learn my teachings, Will recall my wisdom-sayings, Hungry for the true religion. Then will Suomi need my coming, Watch for me at dawn of morning, That I may bring back the Sampo, Bring anew the harp of joyance, Bring again the golden moonlight, Bring again the silver sunshine, Peace and plenty to the Northland.”

Thus the ancient Wainamoinen, In his copper-banded vessel, Left his tribe in Kalevala, Sailing o’er the rolling billows, Sailing through the azure vapors, Sailing through the dusk of evening, Sailing to the fiery sunset, To the higher-landed regions, To the lower verge of heaven; Quickly gained the far horizon, Gained the purple-colored harbor. There his bark he firmly anchored, Rested in his boat of copper; But he left his harp of magic, Left his songs and wisdom-sayings, To the lasting joy of Suomi.

EPILOGUE

Now I end my measured singing, Bid my weary tongue keep silence, Leave my songs to other singers. Horses have their times of resting After many hours of labor; Even sickles will grow weary When they have been long at reaping; Waters seek a quiet haven After running long in rivers; Fire subsides and sinks in slumber At the dawning of the morning; Therefore I should end my singing, As my song is growing weary, For the pleasure of the evening, For the joy of morn arising.

Often I have heard it chanted, Often heard the words repeated: “Worthy cataracts and rivers Never empty all their waters.” Thus the wise and worthy singer Sings not all his garnered wisdom; Better leave unsung some sayings Than to sing them out of season.

Thus beginning, and thus ending, Do I roll up all my legends, Roll them in a ball for safety, In my memory arrange them, In their narrow place of resting, Lest the songs escape unheeded, While the lock is still unopened, While the teeth remain unparted, And the weary tongue is silent. Why should I sing other legends, Chant them in the glen and forest, Sing them on the hill and heather? Cold and still my golden mother Lies beneath the meadow, sleeping, Hears my ancient songs no longer, Cannot listen to my singing; Only will the forest listen, Sacred birches, sighing pine-trees, Junipers endowed with kindness, Alder-trees that love to hear me, With the aspens and the willows.

When my loving mother left me, Young was I, and low of stature; Like the cuckoo of the forest, Like the thrush upon the heather, Like the lark I learned to twitter, Learned to sing my simple measures, Guided by a second mother, Stern and cold, without affection; Drove me helpless from my chamber To the wind-side of her dwelling, To the north-side of her cottage, Where the chilling winds in mercy Carried off the unprotected. As a lark I learned to wander, Wander as a lonely song-bird, Through the forests and the fenlands, Quietly o’er hill and heather; Walked in pain about the marshes, Learned the songs of winds and waters, Learned the music of the ocean, And the echoes of the woodlands.

Many men that live to murmur, Many women live to censure, Many speak with evil motives; Many they with wretched voices Curse me for my wretched singing, Blame my tongue for speaking wisdom, Call my ancient songs unworthy, Blame the songs and curse the singer. Be not thus, my worthy people, Blame me not for singing badly, Unpretending as a minstrel. I have never had the teaching, Never lived with ancient heroes, Never learned the tongues of strangers, Never claimed to know much wisdom. Others have had language-masters, Nature was my only teacher, Woods and waters my instructors. Homeless, friendless, lone, and needy, Save in childhood with my mother, When beneath her painted rafters, Where she twirled the flying spindle, By the work-bench of my brother, By the window of my sister, In the cabin of my father, In my early days of childhood.

Be this as it may, my people, This may point the way to others, To the singers better gifted, For the good of future ages, For the coming generations, For the rising folk of Suomi.

THE END

GLOSSARY

Aär’nï (Är’nï). The guardian of hidden treasures. A-ha’va. The West-wind; the father of the swift dogs. Ah’ti. The same as Lemminkainen. Ah’to. The great god of the waters. Ah’to-la. The water-castle of Ahto and his people. Ah’to-lai’set. The inhabitants of Ahtola. Ai-nik’ki. A sister of Ahti. Ai’no (i’no). Youkahainen’s sister. An’te-ro. A goddess of the waves. Ai’nue-lake. The lake into which the Fire-child falls. An-nik’ki. Ilmarinen’s sister. An’te-ro. Another name for Wipanen, or Antero Wipunen. Dus’ter-land. The Northland; Pimentola. Et’e-le’tar. A daughter of the South-wind. Fire-Child. A synonym of Panu. Frost. The English for Pakkanen. Hal’lap-yo’ra. A lake in Finland. Hal’ti-a (plural Haltiat). The Genius of Finnish mythology. Het’e-wa’ne. The Finnish name of the Pleiades. Hi’si (original Hiisi). The Evil Principle; also called Jutas, Lempo, and Piru. Mon’ja-tar. The daughter of the Pine-tree. Hor’na. A sacred rock in Finland. I’ku-Tur’so. An evil giant of the sea. Il’ma-ri’nem. The worker of the metals; a brother of Wainamoinen. Il’ma-tar. Daughter of the Air, and mother of Wainamoinen. Il’po-tar. Believed to be the daughter of the Snow flake; the same as Louhi. Im-a’tra. A celebrated waterfall near Wiborg. In’ger-land. The present St. Petersburg. Ja’men (Ya’men). A river of Finland. Jor’dan. Curiously, the river of Palestine. Jou’ka-hai’nen (You-ka-hai’nen). A celebrated minstrel of Pohyola. Jou-ko’la (You-ko’la). The home or dwelling of Youkahainen. Ju-ma’la (You-ma’la). Originally the heavens, then the god of the heavens, and finally God. Ju’tas (yu’tas). The Evil Principle; Hisi, Piru, and Lempo are synonyms, Kai’nto-lai’nen. A son of the god of metals; from his spear came the tongue of the serpent. Ka-ler’vo. The father of Kullervo. Ka-le’va (Kalewai’nen). The father of heroes; a hero in general. Kal’e-va’la (kaleva, hero, and la, the place of). The land of heroes; the name of the epic poem of Finland. Kal’e-va’tar (Kalewa’tar). Daughter of Kaleva. Kal-e’vo. The same as Kaleva. Ka’lew. Often used for Kaleva. Kal’ma. The god of death. Kam’mo. The father of Kimmo. Kan’ka-hat’ta-ret. The goddesses of weaving. Ka’pe. A synonym of Ilmatar, the mother of Wainamoinen. Ka’po. A synonym of Osmotar. Ka-re’len. A province of Finland. Kar-ja’la, (karya’la). The seat of the waterfall, Kaatrakoski. Kat’e-ja’tar (kataya’tar). The daughter of the Pine-tree. Kat’ra-kos’ki (Kaatrakos’ki). A waterfall in Karjala. Kau’ko. The same as Kaukomieli. Kau’ko-miel’li. The same as Lemminkainen. Kaup’pi. The Snowshoe-builder; Lylikki. Ke’mi. A river of Finland. Kim’mo. A name for the cow; the daughter of Kammo, the patron of the rocks. Ki’npu-ki’nvi. The name of the rock at Hell-river, beneath which the spirits of all diseases are imprisoned. Kir’kon-Woe’ki. Church dwarfs living under altars. Knik’ka-no. Same as Knippana. Knip’pa-no. Same as Tapio. Koot’a-moi’nen. The Moon. Kos’ken-nei’nti. The goddess of the cataract. Kul-ler’vo. The vicious son of Kalervo. Kul’ler-woi’nen. The same as Kullervo. Kul’li. A beautiful daughter of Sahri. Kun. The Moon, and the Moon-god. Kun’tar. One of the daughters of the Moon. Ku’ra (Kuura). The Hoar-frost; also called Tiera, a ball of ice. Kul-lik’ki (also Kyl’li). The Sahri-maiden whom Lemminkainen kidnapped. Lak’ka. Mother of Ilmarinen. Lak-ko. The hostess of Kalevala. Lem’min-kai’nen. One of the brothers of Wainamoinen; a son of Lempi. Lem’pi-bay. A bay of Finland. Lem’po. The Evil Principle; same as Hisi, Piru, and Jutas. Lin’nun-ra’ta (Bird-way). The Milky-way. Lou’hi. The hostess of Pohyola. Low-ya’tar. Tuoni’s blind daughter, and the originator of the Plagues. Lu’on-no’tar. One of the mystic maidens, and the nurse of Wainamoinen. Lu’o-to’la. A bay of Finland, named with Joukola. Ly-lik’ki (Lyylik’ki). Maker of the snow-shoe. Maan-e’mo (man-e’mo). The mother of the Earth. Ma’hi-set (Maa’hi-set). The invisibly small deities of Finnish mythology. Mam’me-lai’nen. The goddess of hidden treasures. Ma’na. A synonym of Tuoni, the god of death. Man’a-lai’nen. The same as Mana. Masr’i-at’ta (marja, berry). The Virgin Mary of Finnish mythology. Mat’ka-Tep’po. The road-god. Meh’i-lai’nen. The honey-bee. Mel’a-tar. The goddess of the helm. Met’so-la. The same as Tapiola, the abode of the god of the forest, Mie-lik’ki. The hostess of the forest. Mi-merk’ki. A synonym of Mielikki. Mosk’va. A province of Suomi. Mu-rik’ki (Muurik’ki). The name of the cow. Ne’wa. A river of Finland. Ny-rik’ki. A son of Tapio. Os’mo. The same as Osmoinen. Os-noi’nen. A synonym of Wainola’s hero. Os’mo-tar. The daughter of Osmo; she directs the brewing of the beer for Ilmarinen’s wedding-feast. O-ta’va. The Great Bear of the heavens. Ot’so. The bear of Finland. Poe’ivoe. The Sun, and the Sun god. Pai’nva-tar. The goddess of the summer. Pak’ka-nen. A synonym of Kura. Pal-woi’nen. A synonym of Turi, and also of Wirokannas. Pa’nu. The Fire-Child, born from the sword of Ukko. Pa’ra. A tripod-deity, presiding over milk and cheese. Pel’ler-woi’nen. The sower of the forests. Pen’i-tar. A blind witch of Pohyola; and the mother of the dog. Pik’ku Mies. The water-pigmy that felled the over-spreading oak-tree for Wainamoinen. Pil’a-ya’tar (Pilaja’tar). The daughter of the Aspen; and the goddess of the Mountain-ash. Pilt’ti. The maid-servant of Mariatta. Pi’nmen-to’la. A province of Finland; another name for Pohyola. Pi’nru. The same as Lempo, Jutas, and Hisi. Pi’sa. A mountain of Finland. Poh’ya (Poh’ja). An abbreviated form for Pohyola. Poh-yo’la (Poh-jo’la). The Northland; Lapland. Pok-ka’nen. The Frost, the son of Puhuri; a synonym of Tiera. Puh-hu’ri. The North-wind; the father of Pakkanen. Rem’men. The father of the hop-vine. Re’mu. The same as Remmen. Ru-o’tus. A persecutor of the Virgin Mariatta. Rut’ya (Rut’ja). A waterfall of Northland. Sah’ri (Saari). The home of Kyllikki. Sam’po. The jewel that Ilmarinen forges from the magic metals; a talisman of success to the possessor; a continual source of strife between the tribes of the North. Samp’sa. A synonym of Pellerwoinen. Sa’ra. The same as Sariola. Sar’i-o’la. The same as Pohyola. Sat’ka. A goddess of the sea. Sa’wa (Sa’wo). The eastern part of Finland. Sim’a Pil’li (Honey-flute). The flute of Sima-suu. Sim’a-Suu. One of the maidens of Tapio. Sin’e-tar. The goddess of the blue sky. Si-net’ta-ret. The goddesses of dyeing. Suk’ka-mie’li. The goddess of love. Suo’mi (swo’mi). The ancient abode of the Finns. Suo’ne-tar (swone-tar). The goddess of the veins. Suo-wak’ko. An old wizard of Pohyola. Suo’ya-tar (Syo’jatar). The mother of the serpent. Su’ve-tar (Suve, summer). Goddess of the South-wind Su-wan’to-lai’nen. Another name for Wainamoinen. Taeh’ti. The Polar Star. Ta-he’tar. The daughter of the Stars. Tai’nvas. The firmament in general. Ta-ni’nka. A magic mansion of Pohja. Ta’pi-o. The god of the forest. Tel-le’rvo. A daughter of Tapio. Ter’he-ne’tar. Daughter of the Fog. Tie’ra. Same as Kura; the Hoar-frost. Tont’tu. A little house-spirit. Tu’a-me’tar. Daughter of the Alder-tree. Tu-le’tar (Tuule’tar). A goddess of the winds. Tu-lik’ki (Tuullk’ki). One of the daughters of Tapio. Tu’o-ne’la. The abode of Tuoni. Tuo’nen Poi’nka. The son of Tuoni. Tu’o-ne’tar. The hostess of Death-land; a daughter of Tuoni. Tu-o’ni. The god of death. Tu’ri (Tuuri). The god of the Honey-land. Turja (tur’ya). Another name for Pohya. Tur’ya-lan’der. An epithet for one of the tribe of Louhi. Tur’ya (Tyrja). A name for the waterfall of Rutya. Uk’ko. The Great Spirit of Finnish mythology; his abode is in Jumala. Uk’on-koi’nva (Ukko’s dog). The messenger of Ukko; the butterfly. U’lap-pa’la. Another term for the abode of Tuoni. Un’du-tar. Goddess of the fog. U’ni. The god of sleep. Un’ta-ma’la. A synonym for “the dismal Sariola.” Un-ta’mo. The god of dreams; the dreamer; a brother of Kalervo, and his enemy. Un’tar. The same as Undutar. Un’to. The same as Untamo. Utu-tyt’to. The same as Undutar. Wai’nam-oi’nen (Vainamoinen). The chief hero of the Kalevala; the hero of Wainola, whose mother, Ilmatar, fell from the air into the ocean. Wai’no (Vai’no). The same as Wainamoinen. Wai-no’la. The home of Wainamoinen and his people; a synonym of Kalevala. Wel-la’mo. The hostess of the waters. Wet’e-hi’nen. An evil god of the sea. Wi-pu’nen (Vipu’nen). An old song-giant that swallowed Wainamoinen searching for the “lost words.” Wi’nro-kan’nas (Virokan’nas). Ruler of the wilderness; the slayer of the huge bull of Suomi; the priest that baptizes the son of Mariatta. Wo’ya-lan’der (Vuojalan’der). An epithet for Laplander. Wuok’sen (Vuo’ksen). A river in the east of Finland. Wuok’si. The same as Wuoksen.

THE END.