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Runo XXXV]
Kullervo and his Sister
109

And by chance a maiden met him,
With her yellow hair all flowing,
There upon the heath of Väino,
On his clearing made aforetime.
Kullervo, Kalervo’s offspring,
Checked the sledge upon the instant,90
And began a conversation,
And began to talk and wheedle:
“Come into my sledge, O maiden,
Rest upon the furs within it.”
From her snowshoes said the maiden,
And she answered, as she skated,
“In thy sledge may Death now enter,
On thy furs be Sickness seated.”
Kullervo, Kalervo’s offspring,
With the very bluest stockings,100
With his whip then struck his courser,
With his beaded whip he lashed him.
Sprang the horse upon the journey,
Rocked the sledge, the road was traversed,
And he drove and rattled onward,
And he travelled on his journey,
On the lake’s extended surface,
And across the open water,
And by chance a maiden met him,
Walking on, with shoes of leather,110
O’er the lake’s extended surface,
And across the open water.
Kullervo, Kalervo’s offspring,
Checked his horse upon the instant,
And his mouth at once he opened,
And began to speak as follows:
“Come into my sledge, O fair one,
Pride of earth, and journey with me.”
But the maiden gave him answer,
And the well-shod maiden answered:120
“In thy sledge may Tuoni seek thee,
Manalainen journey with thee.”
Kullervo, Kalervo’s offspring,
With the very bluest stockings,