Runo XLVIII.—The Capture of the Fire
Argument
The heroes prepare a linen net, and at length capture the fish which has swallowed the fire (1-192). The fire is found in the fish’s belly, but flashes up suddenly, and burns Ilmarinen’s cheeks and hands severely (193-248). The fire rushes into the forest, burns over many countries, and spreads further and further, till at length it is captured and carried to the dark dwellings of Kalevala (249-290). Ilinarinen recovers from his burns (291-372).
Väinämöinen, old and steadfast,
He the great primeval minstrel,
Thereupon began to ponder,
And reflected on the method
How to make a net of linen,
How to make the hundred meshes.
Then he spoke the words which follow,
And expressed himself in thiswise:
“Is there one who flax can sow me,
Who can sow the flax and card it,10
And of this a net can make me,
Weave for me its hundred meshes,
Thus this wretched fish to slaughter,
And destroy the fish unhappy?”
So a little spot they found him,
Found a place not yet burned over,
In the wide extent of marshes,
There between two stumps they found it.
Thereupon they dug the roots out,
And ’twas there they found the flaxseed,20
Guarded by the worm of Tuoni,
There protected by the earthworm.
There they found a heap of ashes;
Dry the ashes that they found there,
Of a wooden burned-up vessel,
Of a boat that once had burned there.
