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Runo XLVI]
Väinämöinen and the Bear
225

“Now I take the nose from Otso,
That my own nose may be lengthened,510
But I take it not completely,
And I do not take it only.
“Now I take the ears of Otso,
That my own ears I may lengthen,
But I take them not completely,
And I do not take them only.
“Now I take the eyes of Otso,
That my own eyes I may lengthen,
But I take them not completely,
And I do not take them only.520
“Now will I take Otso’s forehead,
That my forehead I may lengthen,
But I take it not completely,
And I do not take it only.
“Now I take the mouth of Otso,
That my own mouth may be lengthened,
But I take it not completely,
And I do not take it only.
“Now I take the tongue of Otso,
That my own tongue may be lengthened,530
But I take it not completely,
And I do not take it only.
“He shall be a man respected,
And as hero shall be reckoned,
Who the bear’s teeth now can number,
And the rows of teeth can loosen
From the jaws of steely hardness,
With his grasp as strong as iron.”
As no other man came forward,
And no hero would attempt it,540
He himself the bear’s teeth numbered,
And the rows of teeth he reckoned,
Kneeling down beneath the jawbones,
With his grasp as strong as iron.
From the bear the teeth then taking,
Uttered he the words which follow:
“Otso, apple of the forest,
Fair and bulky forest-dweller,

vol. ii.
Q