[19.] The word used here is "poika," which literally means a boy, or a son.
[51, 52.] The original admirably expresses the hovering motion of the bird:
Lenteleikse, liiteleikse,
Katseleikse, kaanteleikse.
[142.] In the original "the song of a cock's child."
[177, 178.] Weeping appears no more disgraceful to the heroes of the Kalevala than to those of the Iliad. Still, Väinämöinen not unfrequently plays a very undignified part when in difficulties.
[241.] Louhi recognized him, though he would not mention his name.
[286.] "Virsu is a shoe made of birch bark." (A. M.)
[311.] It appears that the magic mill called a Sampo could only be forged by a competent smith, from materials which Louhi alone possessed, and which, perhaps, she could not again procure. Otherwise Ilmarinen could have forged another for himself, and it would have been unnecessary for the heroes to steal it. The chain forged by the dwarfs, according to the Prose Edda, for binding the wolf Fenrir, was also composed of materials which could not again be procured. "It was fashioned out of six things; to wit, the noise made by the footfall of a cat, the beards of women, the roots of stones, the sinews of bears, the breath of fish, and the spittle of birds."
RUNO VIII