Said the lively Lemminkainen,
"Formerly when I was rowing,
There was water for the rowers,
There was singing for the minstrels,
But at present time, when rowing,
Nothing do we hear of singing, 230
In the boat we hear no singing,
On the waves we hear no chanting."
Väinämöinen, old and steadfast,
Answered in the words which follow:
"Do not sing upon the waters,
Do not chant upon the billows;
Singing brings the boat to halting,
Songs would but impede the rowing,
Then would wane the golden daylight,
And the night descend upon us, 240
On the wide expanse of water,
On the surface of the billows."
Then the lively Lemminkainen
Answered in the words which follow:
"Anyway, the time is passing,
Fades away the lovely daylight,
And the night is swift approaching,
And the twilight comes upon us,
Though no song our life enlivens,
Nor the time is given to chanting." 250
Steered the aged Väinämöinen
O'er the blue lake's shining water,
And he steered one day, a second,
And at length upon the third day.
Then the lively Lemminkainen
For a second time inquired,
"Wherefore sing not, Väinämöinen?
O thou great one, sing unto us!
We have won the splendid Sampo;
Straight the course that now we follow." 260
Väinämöinen, old and steadfast,
Gave him a decided answer:
"'Tis too early yet for singing,
'Tis too early for rejoicing.
Soon a time will come for singing,
Fitting time for our rejoicing,
When we see our doors before us,
And we hear our own doors creaking."
Said the lively Lemminkainen,
"In the stern I'll take position, 270
And with all my might will sing there,
And with all my force will bellow.
Perhaps indeed I cannot do so,
Loud enough I cannot bellow:
If you will not sing unto us,
Then will I commence the singing."
Then the lively Lemminkainen,
He the handsome Kaukomieli,
Quickly pursed his mouth for singing,
And prepared himself to carol, 280
And began to sing his carols,
But his songs were most discordant,
And his voice it sounded hoarsely,
And his tones were most discordant.
Sang the lively Lemminkainen,
Shouted loudly Kaukomieli,
Moved his mouth, his beard was wagging,
And his chin was likewise shaking.
Far away was heard his singing,
Far away across the water, 290
In six villages they heard it,
Over seven the song resounded.
On a stump a crane was sitting,
On a mound from swamp arising,
And his toe-bones he was counting,
And his feet he was uplifting,
And was terrified extremely
At the song of Lemminkainen.
Left the crane his strange employment,
With his harsh voice screamed in terror, 300
From his perch he flew in terror,
Over Pohjola in terror,
And upon his coming thither,
When he reached the swamp of Pohja,
Screaming still, and screaming harshly,
Screaming at his very loudest,
Waked in Pohjola the people,
And aroused that evil nation.