Rune XIV-b

Should thy mistress not awaken At the calling of thy flute-notes, Play again, and play unceasing, Make the golden tongue re-echo." Wild and daring Lemminkainen Steadfast prays upon his journey, Calling on the gods for succor, Hastens off through fields and moorlands, Passes on through cruel brush-wood, To the colliery of Hisi, To the burning fields of Lempo; Glided one day, then a second, Glided all the next day onward, Till he came to Big-stone mountain, Climbed upon its rocky summit, Turned his glances to the north-west, Toward the Northland moors and marshes; There appeared the Tapio-mansion. All the doors were golden-colored, Shining in the gleam of sunlight Through the thickets on the mountains, Through the distant fields of Northland. Lemminkainen, much encouraged, Hastens onward from his station Through the lowlands, o'er the uplands, Over snow-fields vast and vacant, Under snow-robed firs and aspens, Hastens forward, happy-hearted, Quickly reaches Tapio's court-yards, Halts without at Tapio's windows, Slyly looks into her mansion, Spies within some kindly women, Forest-dames outstretched before him, All are clad in scanty raiment, Dressed in soiled and ragged linens. Spake the stranger Lemminkainen: "Wherefore sit ye, forest-mothers, In your old and simple garments, In your soiled and ragged linen? Ye, forsooth! are too untidy, Too unsightly your appearance In your tattered gowns appareled. When I lived within the forest, There were then three mountain castles, One of horn and one of ivory, And the third of wood constructed; In their walls were golden windows, Six the windows in each castle, Through these windows I discovered All the host of Tapio's mansion, Saw its fair and stately hostess; Saw great Tapio's lovely daughter, Saw Tellervo in her beauty, With her train of charming maidens; All were dressed in golden raiment, Rustled all in gold and silver. Then the forest's queenly hostess, Still the hostess of these woodlands, On her arms wore golden bracelets, Golden rings upon her fingers, In her hair were sparkling, jewels, On her bead were golden fillets, In her ears were golden ear-rings, On her neck a pearly necklace, And her braidlets, silver-tinselled. "Lovely hostess of the forest, Metsola's enchanting mistress, Fling aside thine ugly straw-shoes, Cast away the shoes of birch-bark, Doff thy soiled and ragged linen, Doff thy gown of shabby fabric, Don the bright and festive raiment, Don the gown of merry-making, While I stay within thy borders, While I seek my forest-booty, Hunt the moose of evil Hisi. Here my visit will be irksome, Here thy guest will be ill-humored, Waiting in thy fields and woodlands, Hunting here the moose of Lempo, Finding not the Hisi-ranger, Shouldst thou give me no enjoyment, Should I find no joy, nor respite. Long the eve that gives no pleasure, Long the day that brings no guerdon!