The four winds heard the magic call of Ilmarinen, and they hastened from the corners of the sky to do his bidding. First came the East Wind, riding over the sea, combing the crests of the waves with his clammy fingers, and rushing with chilly breath through the dank marshes and across the lonely meadows. He knocked at the door of the smithy, he rattled the latch, and shrieked down the chimney:
“Master of wizards and prince of all smiths, what will you have me do?”
And Ilmarinen answered, “Set my bellows to blowing that I may forge the wondrous Sampo.”
Next there was heard a joyous whistling among the pine trees, and a whir-whirring as of the wings of a thousand birds; and there was a fragrance in the air like the fragrance of countless wildflowers, and a soft breathing like the breath of a sleeping child. The South Wind [[87]]crept softly up to the smithy door, it peeped slyly in, and said merrily:
“What now, old friend and companion? What will you have me do?”
And Ilmarinen answered, “Blow into my furnace, and blow hard, that I may forge the wondrous Sampo.”
Then came the jolly West Wind, roaring among the mountains, dancing in the valleys, playing among the willows and the reeds, and frolicking with the growing grass. He laughed as he lifted the roof of the smithy and peered down at the furnace and the forge and the tools of the Smith.
“Ha, ha!” he called. “Have you some work for me? Let me get at it at once.”
And Ilmarinen answered, “Feed my fire, so that I may forge the wondrous Sampo.”
He had scarcely spoken when the sky was overcast and heavy gray clouds obscured the sun. The North Wind, like an untamed monster, came hurtling over the land, howling and shrieking, as fierce as a thousand wolves, as fleet as the swiftest reindeer. He filled the air with snowflakes, he covered the hills with a coating of ice. The pine trees shivered and moaned because [[88]]of his chilly breath, and the brooks and waterfalls were frozen with fear.