Runo XLI.—Väinämöinen’s Music
Argument
Väinämöinen plays on the kantele, and all living things, whether belonging to the air, earth, or water, hasten to the spot to listen (1-168). The hearts of all listeners are so affected by the music that tears fall from their eyes, and Väinämöinen’s own eyes shed large drops which fall to the ground and trickle into the water, where they are changed into beautiful blue pearls (169-266).
Väinämöinen, old and steadfast,
He the great primeval minstrel,
Presently stretched out his fingers,
Washed his thumbs, the harp for playing,
On the stone of joy he sat him,
On the singer’s stone he sat him,
On a hill all silver-shining,
From a golden heath arising.
Then the harp he grasped with fingers,
And upon his knee he propped it,10
And his hands he placed beneath it,
Then he spoke the words which follow:
“Come ye now to listen to me,
Ye before who never heard me,
Hear with joy my songs primeval,
While the kantele is sounding.”
Then the aged Väinämöinen,
Quick commenced his skilful playing
On the instrument of pikebone,
On the kantele of fishbone,20
And he raised his fingers nimbly,
And his thumb he lifted lightly.
Now came pleasure after pleasure,
As the sweet notes followed others,
As he sat and played the music,
As he sang his songs melodious,
As he played upon the pike-teeth,
And he lifted up the fish-tail,
