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178
Kalevala
[Runo XLII

With his sword he clove the water,
In the lake his sword plunged deeply,
Mead along his blade was flowing,
Honey from his sword was dropping.
Then the fog to heaven ascended,
And the cloud in air rose upward,
From the lake the mist ascended,
And the vapour from the lake-waves,390
And the lake extended widely,
Wider spread the whole horizon.
But a little time passed over,
Short the time that then passed over,
When they heard a mighty roaring,
At the red boat’s side they heard it,
And the foam flew wildly upwards,
Near the boat of Väinämöinen.
Thereupon smith Ilmarinen,
Felt the very greatest terror.400
From his cheeks the blood departed,
From his cheeks the ruddy colour;
O’er his head he drew his felt-cap,
And above his ears he drew it,
And his cheeks with care he covered,
And his eyes he covered better.
Then the aged Väinämöinen
Looked into the water round him,
Cast his gaze beside the vessel,
And he saw a little wonder.410
Iku-Turso, son of Äijö,
By the red boat’s side was lifting
High his head from out the water,
Raising it from out the billows.
Väinämöinen, old and steadfast,
Grasped his ears upon the instant,
By his ears he dragged him upward,
And he sang aloud, and questioned,
And he said the words which follow:
“Iku-Turso, son of Äijö,420
Wherefore from the lake uplift thee,
Wherefore rise above the lake-waves,