[181.] Pestilence has often been attributed to the anger of gods or demons; and Finland suffered severely from plague till well into the eighteenth century. But I am inclined to regard the plague described here as the Black Death, which must have ravaged Finland about 1350.
[269, 282, 283.] All these names have nearly the same significance, and might be rendered by "Dolores, our Lady of Pain."
RUNO XLVI
[13, 14.] The pestilence having abated at the approach of winter, the wild beasts naturally overran the devastated country. So I would interpret this passage.
[25.] Literally, three feathers, but the commentary gives the meaning adopted above.
[81.] For an account of bear-hunting in Finland, compare Acerbi's Voyage to the North Cape, I., pp. 288, 289.
[168.] Tapio is the lord of the forest here alluded to, according to the commentary.
[246.] The word here rendered "charge" literally means "bundle" or "package."
[313.] Probably the Danish Sound.
[377.] A honeyed forest perhaps means a forest abounding in honey-dew.