The Judgment, the Trickster, and the Millstone Ring
Canto X is the canto of wit and strength. After the suppressed doom of Canto IX — the celestial stranger's prophecy dissolved in dream, the messenger's battle orders thrown into the bottomless sea — the epic turns to the texture of ordinary life, which is never ordinary in the Kalevipoeg.
The hero goes to buy a horse. A bird in the alder grove tells him a steed neighs from Hiiumaa. Along the way he finds two farmer's sons quarrelling over who owns a stretch of bogland. He judges the case with common sense and sends his companion Alevipoeg to measure and divide the territory. But a water-spirit rises from the riverbed and offers gold to leave the water-passages open. Alevipoeg, no fool, digs a pit beneath a hatbrim so the gold falls through a bottomless vessel — a trick worthy of Anansi or Loki. The spirit retaliates by luring Alevipoeg's cup-bearer to an underwater hall where demons throw the boy from wall to wall like a ball. The boy escapes through cleverness — pretending to measure the room with a rope, he walks out the door — then faces six perils on his return. A guardian at the gate tells him: turn right. The advice saves his life.
Then Kalevipoeg meets the water-spirit face to face on Närska Hill. A sling-stone contest: the spirit's stone reaches Lake Võrtsjärv, Kalevipoeg's reaches Lake Peipsi. A tug-of-war: the spirit strains until his tendons crack, then Kalevipoeg flings him seven versts through the air like an empty ball of flax. The laughter of the heroes shakes the hills.
The canto closes with plans for cities and a dream. Kalevipoeg remembers his unpaid sword-debt to the Finnish smith and dispatches Alevipoeg to Finland with nine horses, twenty milk-cows, a thousand old thalers, and the dowries of five maidens. Then night falls. In a dream, a maiden of the air — the Thunder's curly-haired daughter — drops her golden ring into a well. Kalevipoeg dives in to find it. Sorcerers roll a millstone onto his head. He climbs back up with the millstone on his finger and asks the maiden: is this your ring? The canto ends there — on a punchline that is also a prophecy, because the ring that fits Kalevipoeg is always the impossible one.
This is a Good Works Translation by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, translated from the Estonian text of the 1857 first edition as preserved in Project Gutenberg. The parallelism and rhythm of Estonian regivärss are preserved in the line structure. No existing English translation was consulted as a source.
The Singer's Invocation
Fair candle of the night,
Light-eyed watchman of heaven!
Lend delight to the singer
To wander the pathways,
To walk the secret ways,
Where Kalev once went,
Where the son once rested,
In the company of friends
Performed many a deed,
Revealed many a wonder!
The eyes of the shining stars
Have witnessed their roads,
Their journeys in distant lands;
Seen what sport was made
In the chill of Viru's spruces,
Among Harju's aspens,
In the midst of Lääne's alders;
Seen men's merriment,
The toil of five miseries,
The bonds of six temptations,
The fetters of seven paces,
Unsuspecting snares
Into which men fell,
Fell at their feasts of pleasure.
Go then into the woodlands,
Into the dense thickets,
To ransom the songs,
To gather the gold,
To seek the silver,
To take the copper!
So then I heard tidings,
Old tales taking root,
Words knotted in ancient times,
Speeches spun in gold:
The Horse Quest
The stalwart son of Kalev
Had gone to buy a horse,
To barter for a plough-steed.
When he had walked a stretch of road,
A stretch of road, much land,
A bird sang from the alders,
A wise bird from the oaks,
A cuckoo from the golden spruces:
"A horse neighs from Hiiumaa,
A colt cries from the great marsh,
A foal calls from afar:
The horse neighs for a buyer,
The colt cries for a saddle,
The foal for white harness." —
"My thanks to you, wise birds,
Thanks to the way-guides!"
Spoke the son of Kalev,
Set foot upon another road
Striding with a rapid step.
Five were the delays in Viru,
In Harju the pastime-wiles,
In Järva empty errands,
From which he could get no farther.
The Brothers' Quarrel
To the farmer's sons
Quarrels had risen from the wind,
Groundless breaches of the peace;
The lakelet where they once had lived,
Where both had freely gone,
Had grown narrow in their jealousy,
Small in the fury of their hatred.
The boys could stay no longer,
The lads had lost their footing,
Had to flee from home
To seek a new abode.
When they had walked far,
Tramped at the wind's pace —
Could they not find somewhere a home,
A better dwelling-place,
Somewhere to set down roots,
Where they could make a clearing? —
There they found by fortune's wish
In the great Kikerpära marsh
An unexpected spot,
Where no dog would gather a home,
No whelp would find a nesting-place.
To the farmer's sons
The place seemed pleasing;
Yet a quarrel arose:
Which of them should be named
Master of the marsh?
Both had the mind
To be the marsh's lord.
The precious son of Kalev
Happened by unplanned steps,
In the company of dear friends,
Upon Kikerpära's borders,
Where their tooth-gnashing
Had driven wrath to the rooftop,
Flames wide to the ceiling.
The farmer's little sons
Were tearing each other by the hair,
Scuffling and tugging topknots.
When they saw Kalevipoeg
Coming from the distance,
They calmed their enmity.
The men cried with one voice:
“Dear son of Kalev,
Step this way, friend,
To judge our case,
To quench this quarrel!”
The stalwart son of Kalev
Understood at once, replied:
“Tell me how the strife arose,
The source of this disputing!
From wind comes a gale,
From cloud comes rain-drops,
From anger comes contention,
From vexation comes court-cases;
Therefore lay before me
The root of this quarrel at length!”
The farmer's elder son
Set his words to flowing:
“From the marsh came the trouble,
From the bog our quarrelling —
Which of us two found the place,
Which becomes the marsh's master.
From home we walked side by side,
Trod the road together,
Came here in company,
Yet I was nearer the edge,
My brother walked the outer side:
Therefore it seems clear
The place is rightly mine.”
The son of Kalev answered:
“Wrong-headed lads,
Foolish little men!
From home you walked together,
To the marsh you stepped together,
Along the bog's edge you wandered,
Where neither yet has home,
Has a proper nesting-place:
The marsh is still without a master,
The place still without an owner.
For a worthless empty spot,
From which men have no gain
Nor beasts have any profit —
I mean to grant it to you
As a shelter for the future,
As a homestead for a gift,
Where from the snapping whelps
You can take refuge in flight;
The larger share to the larger brother,
The smaller share to the smaller.”
The farmer's little sons
Began entreating Kalevipoeg:
“Take the marsh, dear brother,
The bog itself to order,
To divide it into two,
So no new court-cases
Nor quarrelling shall arise!
Greed might over time
Extend the boundary lines,
Shift the furrows crooked,
If stones are not set up
As markers on the edges,
A stake at every corner.”
The precious son of Kalev
Set his words to flowing:
“Whoever has once gone
To mend a village's court-case
Must also finish the matter,
Must settle the affair.
Dear son of Alev,
Fetch measuring ropes,
Surveying cords,
Measure the bog by the rope
Into two halves at center,
Then draw a furrow between them,
A long ridge for a border,
Set stones upon the boundary,
Stakes along the edge,
Then no quarrel shall arise
Nor bitter disputing!”
The dear son of Alev
Hastened to carry out the task,
Arranging Kalevipoeg's command
In his companion's company.
The stalwart son of Kalev
Set foot upon another road
To manage needful business,
To perform great works.
The Water-Spirit's Bargain
The dear son of Alev,
Arranging the matter with his friend,
Thought to begin the measuring
At the riverbank,
At Mustapalli the measuring-place,
Where he would drive the stakes,
Where he wished to set the boundary's end.
The old enmity-spirit,
Who could not bear to leave
Christian children anywhere untested,
Was already at his snaring —
From the water's surface thrust his head,
From beneath the waves a spying eye,
Craftily inquiring,
Mockingly demanding:
“What work, little men,
Are you secretly contriving,
Hurriedly arranging?
Is time always so scarce for you?
Restless as a bird-catcher
Whose quarry has unexpectedly
Slipped from the snare?
The quarry's as good as in the bag
When you spring quickly on its heels.”
The son of Alev understood
The farmer's mockery.
Though the hare was half in his breeches,
He answered without flinching:
“I meant to dam the river,
To net the water's flow,
To sling the waves,
To fetter the passage-ways:
So that no creature could move,
Could not swim in
Nor roll back out.”
The water-spirit had an old farmstead,
A household beneath the surface,
A secret hidden chamber,
Dear from long habit,
Known-ways and very useful;
Therefore with honeyed mouth,
With mead-tongue he coaxed,
Entreating the son of Alev:
“Leave the river unblocked,
The water-flow unnetted,
The passages unfettered,
The pathways unobstructed,
The entrances unbound,
The exits unpinned;
I shall pay you a great wage —
Whatever you ask, in full measure,
Without refusal pay it all,
Without dispute disburse it.”
The son of Alev saw
Profit at once, replied:
“What will you, little man,
Promise as a peace-payment,
When we settle and confirm
Our bargain as friends?”
The crafty water-spirit answered:
“What I toss you for payment,
What I promise as a peace-price,
You yourself must name!”
The son of Alev said:
“If you carry by the armful
Old thalers heaped together,
Enough to fill a hatbrim,
Then I shall leave it unblocked,
The passage-ways unfettered.”
The water-spirit replied:
“Tomorrow at early dawn
I promise to bring the thalers,
A hatbrim full of coin.”
The son of Alev answered:
“A bull is bound by the horns,
A man is bound by his word.
Draw me a pledge of word
For the promise's fulfillment —
Otherwise strife shall arise,
The bind shall come again!”
The water-spirit sank below,
Dove for hiding to the river's floor.
The Bottomless Hat
The kinsman of Kalev,
The cunning son of Alev,
Dug by night a pit
With a friend's help beneath the turf,
Nearly a fathom deep,
Broad at the bottom, narrow at top,
Sized to fit a hatbrim;
Set the hat like a lid
Over the hole upon the turf,
Cut in the hat's bottom
A secret opening at the rim,
Through which every load carried in
Would fall into the pit below.
The imp carried on the second day,
At dawn's edge already a load
Of old Swedish rubles,
Which could not begin to cover
The hat's bottom;
The boy brought a second armful,
Carried a third load,
Carried a fourth load,
Brought goods a fifth time,
Gold a sixth time more,
Yet from all this the hatbrim
Could not find its fill.
The riches began to dwindle,
The fellow's wealth to run out.
How he scraped the money-chests,
Swept them clean to the very bottom,
Emptied out the purses,
The pocket-pouches for the pledge.
The work and toil went to waste,
The demand was utterly ruinous:
The hat stood without rising
And would not become full,
Would not grow into a mound.
Into the Underworld
The water-spirit at last began
Entreating the son of Alev:
“Settle the debt on credit,
Be patient, dear brother!
When summer turns to autumn,
Then I shall pay the debt to you,
Carry the extra to the hatbrim,
Until it rises to a mound.”
The dear son of Alev,
Very cunning in his answer:
“A bull is bound by the horns,
A man is bound by his word!
The road is long for the traveller,
The time is long for the waiter,
The debt is long when it’s another's;
Pay the man's promises,
Or else I fulfill my threats,
Bind fast your passages,
Net the water-gates,
So that no creature can move,
Cannot swim in
Nor roll back out.”
The poor little water-spirit,
The farmer's little son,
Had no better plan
Than to walk himself home
To seek help from his mother,
To borrow an addition.
Hatching secret schemes,
The trickster began to speak:
“Dear son of Alev!
As settlement of the promise
I shall fill without refusal
Your hat to the brim and mounding,
If you yourself come along;
Then no confusion shall arise,
No deception anywhere at length.”
The old crafty snarer
Was trying to lure the son of Alev
Away from his treasure.
But the son of Alev
Understood the fellow's thoughts,
The evil spirit's tormenting,
How he meant to trick him;
Set his words to flowing:
“Step along, dear friend,
You, Kalevipoeg's cup-bearer,
To visit the debtor's farmstead,
To greet his acquaintances.
Help carry the money-sack,
If the fellow’s load is heavy;
I myself have no leisure
Today to manage the errand —
I must stand like a rock in the sea-floor,
A strong oak in the wind,
Guarding the treasure,
Keeping the silver hoard.”
Kalevipoeg's cup-bearer
Hastened to carry out the order.
The water-spirit walked ahead,
Alev's helper
Followed at his heels,
Trod an unknown road,
Wandered secret paths
To the borders of darkness,
Where no living human foot
Had ever walked before,
Where no eye of the daylight-children
Had ever seen those places.
Alev's helper
Felt his breeches sieve with trembling,
As on their long journey
They sailed into the evil paddock,
Beneath the shadow-realm's meadow,
Where no dawn was rising,
No twilight-light was gleaming.
By day no sun shone there,
By night the moon gave no glow,
No star-eye showed the road
To those places of darkness.
Gradually a glow began
To flash light upon the path,
For at the gateway pillars
Tar-barrels were burning.
When they stepped together
Over the threshold into the room,
The water-spirit's brothers came
To welcome the stranger,
Invited him onto a bench,
To sit at the table,
Among the golden tankards,
Between the silver platters,
Which to the foreign man
Testified to the household's wealth,
Revealed the family's honor.
Greed for glory is reckoned
The inheritance of hell-folk,
Therefore the boys had set
A feast-table proudly for the stranger.
Kalevipoeg's cup-bearer,
Cooked tender by his fear,
Could not take the feast-food,
Could not taste a morsel from the bowl,
Could not from the tankard
Taste a mouthful of mead,
Of the mead-drink, the sweetness,
Not even a sip to swallow,
For sparks of fire
Flashed from the platters,
Rose from the tankards,
Shot back from the beakers.
The farmer's little sons
Began among themselves
To whisper secret talk,
To speak in hell-tongue,
In twists and turns,
Babbling as in Latvian,
Which the stranger could not understand.
Kalevipoeg's cup-bearer
Worriedly thinking,
Anxiously guessing:
“The bind is closing in!
On the meadows of my youth
I must, poor boy, wither,
On account of a friend's treasure-quest
Die in secret,
Where no young maidens weep,
No curly-heads lament.
Greedy son of Alev,
Who put your friend in shackles,
Into hell's very bonds —
Half an egg is far better
Than one empty shell!”
The Demons' Game
After long whispering,
After secret scheming,
The fire-fork demons,
The hellish boys,
Began to play their game;
They took the stranger for sport,
Who like a light little ball,
A rolling wheel on the field,
Must fly for their amusement,
Must dance at the wind's speed.
The hell-boys flung
The cup-bearer in their play
Always from one hand to another;
The little fellow like a cat-basket,
A whirling tuft of tow,
Flew from wall to wall,
From corner to corner.
The friend of Alev's son
Began entreating the boys:
“Swing-masters, dear brothers!
Set me down, I beg you,
Here upon this dark turf,
Here, upon hell's floor;
Wait while I measure the walls,
Survey the corners with a cord,
Pace the room's length with a string,
Measure the room's breadth with a thread,
So that at home I can report,
Can explain to my friends,
How I was whirled on high,
Was tossed about and tumbled.”
When the little man had rest,
The little boy had respite,
He took the ropes from his belt,
With which he had earlier measured the marsh,
With which the bog had been divided,
And began to measure the walls,
To cord the corners,
Measured one way for length,
The other for breadth,
A third for height,
A fourth for the diagonal,
The doorposts for their length,
The threshold for its breadth.
By luck he passed through the door,
The man escaped to flee,
To race at the wind's speed.
The fellow could not spare a glance
To look back over his shoulder,
To turn his eye behind him,
Until he reached the open world,
Reached the daylight's shining,
Where the evil's shackles,
Hell's snaring bonds,
Could reach him no more at length.
The Escape
The guard had called from the gate,
The door-keeper had cried:
“If you wish to end this journey
With good fortune,
To escape the sling-snare —
Turn your steps to the right!”
Yet the little fellow could not
Go home without one trial.
The brave man, unmarried,
Like a cuckoo in the spruce-top,
A song-bird in the tree-crowns —
In small ways met afflictions,
Six times met entanglements.
Kalevipoeg's cup-bearer,
Fleeing from hell's torment,
Met one snare upon the road,
When a bitch, a she-dog,
With two whelps besides,
Came rolling toward him.
The bitch, the Judas-mother,
Came blustering from Tori,
Where she had been at the bathhouse.
Then Alev's friend recalled
The guard's words from the gate,
They came into his mind:
He turned at once to the right
To tread another road.
The bitch raced past him
In a rush of wind,
Where not a single hair
On the man was stirred.
Lengthening his strides,
Walking at a rapid pace,
Alev's friend at last
Reached the riverbank's edge,
Where Alev had fashioned
The secret pit deep down
To trick the son of hell.
The deep hole beneath the turf
Testified to the trick's success,
The hat set as a lid,
But the rich money-load
Had gone into the forest with the man.
Kalevipoeg's cup-bearer
Followed Alev's tracks,
Wherever the friend had vanished.
The Contest on Närska Hill
The water-spirit, the little fellow,
Racing at his heels,
Mocking the boy,
Craftily inquiring:
“Is there a hornet in your breeches,
A gadfly sitting on your backside?
Why, little man, have you
Forgotten the gold-load for us?
I could not carry the heavy sack
From home alone.
Let us try the bargain
Managed differently:
Shall we test our strength,
Or race for the victory —
Who shall win and be the king?”
The water-spirit, the little fellow,
Thought within himself:
Cleverness may be in their pocket,
But power is still at my command.
Kalevipoeg's cup-bearer
Understood at once, replied:
“If you like, dear fellow,
Let us test it at once!”
Searching for a place,
The men saw Närska Hill,
Which seemed at once agreeable
To choose for the contest.
But before the men
Had stretched their steps toward the hill,
There came toward them on the road
The stalwart son of Kalev
With the dear son of Alev.
The latter had set the water-spirit's treasure
Hidden in the bushes for safekeeping.
Kalevipoeg began to speak:
“Look here, dear brother!
Where did you find this mud-liver
To be your companion?
Where has this strange guest
Sprung from by kin?”
The son of Alev answered:
“The stranger is my debtor,
With whom I made a bargain,
Who did not fill the hat.”
The cup-bearer spoke:
“The stranger is my opponent,
With whom I made a bargain
To take up a contest-match
On Närska Hill for sport.”
The stalwart son of Kalev
Spoke with mockery:
“Grow yet, my golden one,
Stretch, dear little fellow,
Straighten, straighten, dear friend,
For a more bitter time;
Your strength is still too feeble!”
Speaking thus, he put
The cup-bearer in his pocket,
Where his trouser-pouch swelled.
Then he hastened with quick step
To Närska Hill for the contest-game,
To fight the stranger.
The men chose for first sport
A sling-stone throwing contest —
Whose stone from the sling
Would fly the farthest.
The water-spirit, the little fellow,
Had to throw first,
To send the stone flying from the sling.
With numb paws
And thick fingers
He set the stone toward the south
Into the sling's loop.
He let the sling whirl
Ten times around,
Then flung it soaring,
Hurling at the wind's speed.
Where did the stone fall,
Where did it come to land?
The stone fell at the lake's shore,
At the edge of Võrtsjärv,
Ten paces from the bank.
You can see the stone
Clearly with your own eyes:
A rock like a poor man's,
A tenant farmer's little sauna.
The sling-throw contest
Was now in Kalev's hands,
Who needed no lifting-pole,
No lever-beam at all;
With the arrangement of ten fingers
He managed the little task,
Set the stone in the loop
Snugly in its place.
He drove it with a strong arm
Flying from the sling,
Hurling at the wind's speed.
In the wind rose a roaring,
On high was heard a rumbling —
The stone flew into the distance,
Gusting like a whirlwind,
Like the churning of sea-waves,
Flew near to Lake Peipsi,
Fell close to the lake's shore.
Whoever has been on Peipsi's beach
Has surely seen the victory-stone.
The water-spirit, the little fellow,
Asked to extend the game,
To manage it by a second round.
Kalevipoeg answered:
“As you wish, little man!
I do not hate a contest,
Never fear a trial of sport;
Wrestling strengthens power,
In games a man's strength grows.
Let us take up the tug-of-war staff —
Which of us two, pulling the other,
Shall raise the other higher.”
The men sat upon the turf,
Foot braced against foot.
The water-spirit's stout lever
Was taken as the tug-of-war staff.
The water-spirit, straining,
Tried to tear his arm from its socket,
To rip the sinews from their place:
Yet could not raise his opponent,
Could not move Kalevipoeg
One inch from his seat.
Kalevipoeg braced his heel
More firmly against the other,
Locked his fingers tighter
In a grip around the staff,
Pulled once in earnest,
Flung the water-spirit
Like an empty ball of tow
Gusting on the wind's wing.
Head went once over heels,
Soles faced the sky,
Fingers slipped from the staff,
The man flew like a bird.
He rolled, he slid seven versts,
Sailed a full league,
Crashed down into a thicket,
Into the midst of hillocks,
Where for six days
He could not open his eyes,
On the seventh could not lift his head,
Could not move his limbs,
Could not bend his battered body.
The stalwart son of Kalev
Laughed at the jest,
Alev bared his teeth,
The boy in the pocket mocked
The water-spirit's wretchedness.
The strong men's laughter
Rang like thunder's crash
Across the wide open plain,
Through the dense forest thicket,
Shaking the earth,
Rocking the hillocks.
The Sword-Debt
The dear son of Alev
Told the story of the trick,
How with the broken-bottomed hat
At Mustapalli he had
Soundly cheated the fellow,
Had taken the water-spirit's treasure.
Alev's son's declaration:
“A bull is bound by the horns,
A man is bound by his word!”
Set the son of Kalev
Immediately to startling:
The sword-debt still unpaid,
Still unsent to the smith.
The stalwart son of Kalev
Set his words to flowing:
“Son of Alev, dear brother,
Go quickly homeward,
Ride the grey one down to the yard,
Through the paddock at a trot
To the famous house of Kalev,
To the old thaler-farm;
Borrow boats from the shore,
The broader barges,
The better vessels;
Load the boats with gold,
The barges to carry silver,
The vessels to haul riches;
Hire men for sailing,
The sturdiest for steering,
Friends to row in company;
Take provisions, take goods
For the journey's sustenance!
Then load besides:
Nine good horses,
Eight ridge-backed mares,
Twenty milk-cows,
Fifty of the finest calves,
A hundred bushels of wheat,
A bushel and a half of rye-grain,
A thousand old thalers,
A hundred pairs of shoes,
Two hundred gold coins,
An armful of brooches,
The dowries of five maidens!
Add a couple of boatloads more
Of my old family goods;
Carry the precious tribute-load
By sail across the sea to Finland,
To the famous smith's home,
To pay my sword's price,
To discharge the debt without haggling,
To add gold as a bonus,
Silver as a waiting-fee
To pacify my father's uncle!”
The dear son of Alev
Hastened to carry out the command,
Hurried quickly on his way,
Heading toward Harju.
The Cities
The stalwart son of Kalev
Sat down upon the turf
To rest beneath a bush's shade,
To turn the matter in his mind,
To think the affair through,
The latest news from Viru,
The dire tidings of enmity.
“Where shall I find a sure place,”
Spoke the stalwart son,
“A refuge for the feeble?
Hosts of enemies roll
In companies of warriors
Upon Viru's wide plains,
Upon Järva's cleared-land roads —
Then strong walls are needed,
Sturdier ramparts
As shelter for the old,
As a peace-nook for the frail,
As a hiding-place for maidens,
As a guard-room for the curly-haired,
As a weeping-chamber for the weak,
As a mourning-hut for widows.”
The stalwart son of Kalev
Thought further with a wise mind:
“I shall go to procure timbers,
To buy building-wood —
I mean to build strongholds,
To raise them fair and firm:
One fortress for a mother’s beauty,
For a father’s grave’s adornment
To raise upon a cliff;
A second fortress on Taara’s hill,
At the Emajõgi’s bank,
As shade for Taara’s groves;
A third at Jaani’s corner
In the depths of a hidden marsh;
At Alutaha one more fortress
As a refuge for the aged,
As a shelter for the orphans.
Today I shall not set out,
I shall rest my body well;
Tomorrow at early dawn
I shall hasten upon the road
To the borders of Lake Peipsi;
By then Alev will be in Finland
Paying the sword-debt.”
The Cup-Bearer’s Counsel
He meant to take a knife from his pocket,
When his hand by chance
Touched against the little boy,
Who like a pig in a sack
Could not get out from there,
Could not help himself.
The stalwart son of Kalev
Spoke with mockery:
“What is this, what little flea
Is tickling in my pocket?
Step out, little fellow,
To recover in the breeze,
To swell in the sunshine,
To strengthen in the moonlight!
Listen, dear cup-bearer,
Mark these words, little man,
As I sow them for your profit,
As I reveal them for your guidance!
Listen, fledgling of the eagle:
Before your feeble wings
Grow flying feathers,
Soaring plumes that straighten —
Do not rush to fly!
When evil comes to test you,
When the enemy comes to snare you,
Let help come from cleverness,
From wit a better helper;
Try to bind the foe
With cunning through his mockery,
Until your strength has grown,
Until your power rises mightier!
What could you, feeble little man,
Against the water-spirit’s force,
Against a hell-fiend’s might?”
Alev’s kinsman
Understood at once, replied:
“What could I, feeble little man,
Against the water-spirit’s force,
Against a hell-fiend’s might —
That was plainly revealed
By Alev’s handiwork,
When he set the summer-hat
As a lid upon the pit-mouth.
So I too, young as I am,
Would have managed the contest,
Would have tricked the hell-fiend with mockery.”
The stalwart son of Kalev
Set his words to flowing:
“Grow by a hand-span, little fellow,
Grow two spans taller,
Swell, boy, broader,
Gather yourself stronger
For the life ahead,
For a kindling of future days!
Stay here as a way-guide
While I go farther,
To the borders of Lake Peipsi,
To manage needful business!
If here some urgent riders,
Some bearers of war-tidings,
Should come rolling from Viru —
Lead them, friend, without delay
To the borders of Lake Peipsi,
Where I set my path,
Where I may linger on some affair!”
Night and the Dream
Talking thus, they took for supper
Nourishment for the body,
Tongue-quenching for refreshment,
Before they lay down
To rest beneath the bush’s shade.
Night’s robe covered all,
Silence-garb swaddled the clearings,
Locked the tongues of birds,
The voices of living things;
A cricket chirped in the chill,
A grasshopper sang in the summer-warmth,
Mosquitoes whined in flight,
A corncrake called from the rye-field,
A quail from the waterside —
No other sign of life,
Nowhere a distant caller,
No silver-billed songster.
From heaven the stars looked down,
The moon’s pale face shone
Silently upon the sleepers.
A dream wove its garment
Before the drowsing eyes.
The maiden of the air, the beautiful one,
The Thunder’s curly-haired daughter,
A blue-winged little bird,
Flew far, glided far,
Flew into the wide woodland,
Where no herd had ever gone,
Where no herd nor wandering servant;
On the treetops only bird-feet,
Beneath the moss a secret serpent:
There the maiden went stepping,
Walking a path of delight.
What did she mark in the forest,
What did she note along the road?
A well was dug deep,
A shaft was bored bottomless.
To the well led cattle-paths,
Tracks worn by people’s footsteps.
The maiden of the air, the beautiful one,
The Thunder’s curly-haired daughter,
Went to the well for a drink,
To scoop with a golden ladle,
To draw with a silver pail.
The Ring and the Millstone
The son of the forest, a little boy,
A crooked-eyed fosterling,
Saw the fair maiden
Drawing water from the well,
Wanted to hasten to her aid.
The maiden of the air, the beautiful one,
The Thunder’s curly-haired daughter —
Perhaps startled by the boy,
Her hand slipping sideways —
Lost the ring from her finger.
The maiden of the air, the beautiful one,
The Thunder’s curly-haired daughter,
A blue-winged little bird,
Sadly lamenting her woe,
Wishing for a friend,
Coaxing for a helper:
Who would fetch the ring from the deep,
Who would take the gold from beneath the water?
The precious son of Kalev
Heard the maiden’s sorrow,
The bird’s mournful keening,
Hastened to aid the girl.
He set his words to flowing:
“Why do you weep, little maiden,
Why do you lament, curly-head,
Why grieve, fair little bird?”
The maiden of the air, the beautiful one,
Understood the question at once,
Sang back gently:
“Why do I weep, a maiden?
Why do I lament, a curly-head?
Drawing water from the well,
I lost the ring from my finger —
The gold rolled beneath the water.”
The stalwart son of Kalev
Leapt at once to the well’s floor,
Hastened to search for the ring.
The sorcerers in a great company
Came to torment Kalevipoeg:
“The mouse has jumped into the trap,
The bear has fallen into the pit!
Take a stone, dear brothers,
Drop it upon his skull,
Upon the strong man’s neck!”
A millstone was rolled
Swiftly to the well’s brink,
From the height dropped into the well,
Which was meant to crush the man,
To kill the great bear.
The precious son of Kalev,
When he had searched a while,
Leapt back to the well’s top.
What was the ring upon his finger?
A millstone rolling in his hand,
His finger passing through its eye.
Kalevipoeg, asking:
“Maiden of the air, beautiful one,
Thunder’s curly-haired daughter,
Blue-winged little bird —
Is this the ring that is yours,
That fell from you into the well,
That rolled beneath the water?
Nothing else did I find in the mud,
Nothing larger touched my finger.”
Colophon
Kalevipoeg — composed and compiled by Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald from Estonian folk songs and oral tradition, first published in verse form in Kuopio, 1857–1861. Canto X is the canto of wit and strength. Kalevipoeg goes to buy a horse and along the way judges a land dispute between two farmer’s sons with common sense and equity. His companion Alevipoeg, sent to measure the boundary, encounters a water-spirit who bribes him to leave the river open. Alevipoeg tricks the spirit with a bottomless hat — a motif shared with trickster traditions worldwide. The spirit retaliates by luring Kalevipoeg’s cup-bearer into the underworld, where demons throw the boy from wall to wall. The cup-bearer escapes through wit: pretending to measure the room, he walks out the door. Kalevipoeg then defeats the water-spirit in contests of sling-stone and tug-of-war on Närska Hill, flinging him seven versts through the air. Remembering his sword-debt to the Finnish smith, the hero dispatches Alevipoeg across the sea with a vast tribute. The canto closes with a dream in which a maiden of the air drops her ring into a well; Kalevipoeg dives in, sorcerers drop a millstone on him, and he rises with the millstone on his finger, asking if it is the maiden’s ring. The interweaving of folk humor, mythic combat, and prophetic dream is characteristic of the Kalevipoeg’s narrative method — the sacred and the comic share the same breath.
Translated from 19th-century Estonian by the New Tianmu Anglican Church (Good Works Translation), 2026. Translated by Tuuli with Claude (Opus 4.6). No existing English translation was used as a source; the English is independently derived from the Estonian text. W.F. Kirby’s 1895 English prose translation exists but was not consulted.
Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.
🌲
Source Text: Kalevipoeg — Kümnes Lugu
Estonian source text from Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald, "Kalevipoeg" (Kuopio, 1857). Digital text from Project Gutenberg EBook #25062. Presented here for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above.
Kena ööde küünlakene,
Valgussilmil taevavahti!
Laena lusti laulikulle
Radasida rändamaie,
Salateida sammumaie,
Kussa Kalev enne käinud,
Poega enne ju puhanud,
Sõpradega seltsitelles
Mõnda tempu toimetanud,
Imelista ilmutanud!
Siravate tähte silmad
Tunnistanud nende teida,
Kaugel maadel käikisida;
Näinud, mis seal nalja tehti
V i r u kuuskede vilulla,
H a r j u haabade vahella,
L ä ä n e lepiku keskella;
Näinud meeste naljatusi,
Viie viletsuse vaeva,
Kuue kiusatuse kütke,
Seitsme sammude sideme
Kogemata kinnitusta,
Kuhu mehed kukkusivad,
Lustipidul langesivad.
Läki aga laanedesse,
Põõsastikku paksudesse
Laulusida lunastama,
Kuldasida koristama,
Hõbedasi otsimaie,
Vaskesida võttemaie!
Nii aga kuulin kuulutusi,
Vana jutu juurdumisi,
Muiste sõlmitud sõnuda,
Kullal kedratud kõnesid:
Kalevite kange poega
Läinud hobu ostemaie,
Künniruuna kauplemaie.
Kui ta käinud tüki teeda,
Tüki teeda, palju maada,
Laulis lindu lepikusta,
Tarka lindu tammikusta,
Kägu kuldakuusikusta:
"Hobu hirnub H i i u m a a l t a,
Sälgu karjub suurest soosta,
Varssa karjub kauge′elta:
Hobu hirnub ostajada,
Sälgu karjub sadulada,
Varssa valgeid valjaida." -
"Tänu teile, linnud targad,
Tänu teedejuhtidelle!"
Pajatab Kalevipoega,
Tõstab jalga teise teele
Kiirel käigil sammumaie.
Viis oli V i r u s viibimisi,
H a r j u s ajaviitemisi,
J ä r v a s tühje talitusi,
Kust ei saanud kaugemalle.
Pahareti poegadelle
Tõusnud tuulesta tülisid,
Tühjast rahurikkumisi;
Järveke, kus enne eland,
Kaksipäini muidu käinud,
Läinud kitsaks kadeduses,
Väikseks vihasuse vaenus.
Poistel enam polnud püsi,
Mehikestel enam mahti,
Pidid perest põgenema
Uuta aset otsimaie.
Kui nad kaugel kõndisivad,
Tuuliskäigil tallasivad:
Kas ei kuskilt leiaks kodu,
Paremada asupaika,
Kuhu rada kinnitada,
Vahet võiksid valmistada, -
Sealap leidsid õnne soovil
Suures K i k e r p ä r a soossa
Kogemata kohakese,
Kuhu koer ei korjaks kodu,
Penipoeg ei pesapaika.
Pahareti poegadelle
Paistis paika meelepärast;
Siiski tõusis segadusi:
Kumb neist pärisperemeheks
Soole pidi säetama?
Meel oli meestella mõlemal
Saada soole sundijaksi.
Kalevite kallis poega
Juhtus kogemata käigil
Seltsis armsa sõpradega
Kikerpära piiridelle,
Kus neil hambakiskumine
Kannud kirge katukselle,
Lõket laele laiemalle.
Pahareti poisikesed
Kiskusivad karvupidi
Tuisatelles tutikesi.
Kui nad Kalevida kaugelt
Tulles juba tunnistanud,
Vaigistati vaenuviha.
Mehed hüüdsid ühel huulel:
"Kallis Kalevite poega,
Sammu, sõber, siiapoole,
Meile õigust mõistemaie,
Riiukära kustutama!"
Kalevite kange poega
Mõistis kohe, kostis vastu:
"Tunnistage tüli tõusu,
Riidlemise rajamista!
Tuisku tõuseb tuule seesta,
Pilvest vihmapisaraida,
Vihastusest vaidlemine,
Kiusamisest kohtukäiki;
Sellepärast seletage
Pikemalta tüli põhja!"
Pahareti vanem poega
Seadis sõnad sõudevalle:
"Soosta sündis segadusi,
Rabast meile riidlemisi,
Kes meist kahest leidnud koha,
Kes saab soole sundijaksi.
Kodunt kõrvu kõndisime,
Teeda ühes tallasime,
Siia seltsis sammusime,
Siiski mina ligem serva,
Välispoolel kõndis veli:
Sellepärast näitab selge,
Et on kohta minu päralt."
Kalevite poega kostis:
"Pööraspeaga poisikesed,
Meelest tölbid mehikesed!
Kodunt ühes kõndisite,
Soole ühes sammusite,
Raba ääres rändasite,
Kus veel kummalgi ei kodu,
Päris pesimisepaika:
Soo on alles sundijata,
Paik veel ilma peremeheta.
Kõlbamata tühja koha,
Kust ei inimestel kasu
Ega tulu elajatel -
Tahan teile tulevaksi
Varjuurkaks volitada,
Kodupaigaks kinkineda,
Kuhu kiskja kutsikate
Pakku võite põgeneda;
Suuerm pool saab suuremalle,
Väiksem jälle vähemalle."
Pahareti poisikesed
Kalevipoega paluma:
"Võta sooda, vennikene,
Raba ise rajatada,
Kahte jakku jaotada,
Kust ei uuta kohtukäiki
Ega tülitsemist tõuseks!
Ahnus võiks ehk aegamööda
Piirijooni pikendelles
Vaod viia võõritie,
Kui ei kive kinnituseks
Servadelle üles seata,
Nööril iga nurga peale."
Kalevite kallis poega
Seadis sõnad sõudevalle:
"Kes see küla kohtukäiki
Korra läinud kohendama,
Peab ka lugu lõpetama,
Asja selgeks ajamaie.
Armas A l e v i t e poega,
Nõuta mõõdunöörisida,
Piiramise paelukesi,
Mõõda raba nööri mööda
Keskelt kahteje jaguje,
Vea siis vagu vahepeale,
Pika peenra piirde′eksi,
Pane kivid raja peale,
Vaiad serva seisemaie,
Siis ei tõuse segadusi
Ega vihavaidlemisi!"
A l e v i t e armas poega
Tõttas tööda toimetama,
Kalevite poja käsku
Sõbra seltsis seadimaie.
Kalevite kange poega
Tallas ise teise teele
Tarbelikku talitama,
Suuri töida sünnitama.
A l e v i t e armas poega
Sõbra seltsis asja seades
Arvas mõõdu alustuseks
Jõekaldal võtta koha,
Mustapallil mõõdupaiga,
Kuhu vaiad kinnitada,
Piiriotsa tahtis panna.
Vana vaenuvaimukene,
Kes ei raatsi ristilapsi
Kuskil jätta kiusamata,
Valmis juba võrgutamas,
Vete pinnalt pistis peada,
Lainte alta luuril silma
Kavalasti küsimaie,
Pilkes otsust pärimaie:
"Mida tööda, mehikesed,
Salalikult sünnitate,
Kiirelikult kohendate?
Kas teil aega aina kasin?
Püsitum kui linnupüüdjal,
Kellel saaki kogemata
Paelust metsa pääsenenud?
Saak ju mõttes mehel kotis,
Kui ta kiirest′ kannul kargas."
Alevite poega mõistis
Pahareti pilkamista.
Ehk küll jänes pool ju püksis,
Siiski kostis kohkumata:
"Tahtsin jõge takistada,
Vetevoolu võrgutada,
Laineida lingutada,
Käigikohti kütkendada:
Et ei looma liikumaie,
Saaks ei sisse sõudemaie
Ega välja veeremaie."
V e t e v a i m u l vana talu,
Veepinna varjul pere,
Salapeidus sängikene
Harjumise viisil armas,
Tuttav-teega väga tulus;
Sellepärast sulasuuga,
Mesikeelil meelitelles
Alevipoega paluma:
"Jäta jõgi paelumata,
Vetevoolu võrkumata,
Käigid kinni kütkemata,
Teekesed takistamata,
Sissekäigid sidumata,
Väljakäigid vaiamata;
Tahan sulle suure palga,
Mis sa küsid, täiel mõõdul
Tõrkumata kõik tasuda,
Vaidlemata välja maksta."
Alevite poega arvas
Kasu kohe, kostis vastu:
"Mis sa mulle, mehikene,
Lubad lepituse palgaks,
Kui me kaupa kinnitelles
Sõbralikult sobitame?"
Kaval vetevaimu vastas:
"Mis ma sulle palgaks paiskan,
Lepituse hinnaks luban,
Pead sa ise ilmutama!"
Alevipoega pajatas:
"Kui sa kannad kamaluga
Vana kaabupesa võrra
Taalreid kokku kuhjanisti,
Siisap jätan sidumata,
Käigikohad kütkemata."
Vetevaimu vastanekse:
"Homme varahommikulla
Tõotan tuua taalerida,
Raha kaaburummu täie."
Alevite poega kostis:
"Sarvist härga seotakse,
Sõnast meesta sõlmitakse.
Vea sa mulle sõna võlga
Tõotuse täitemiseks, -
Muidu tõuseb meile tüli,
Tuleb kitsik jälle kätte!"
Vetevaimu vajus alla,
Puges peitu jõepõhja.
Kalevite sugulane,
Kaval Alevite poega,
Uuris öösel urkakese
Sõbra abil muru alla
Ligi sülla sügavuse,
Põhjast laia, pealta kitsa,
Kaaburummu kohaseksi;
Seadis kaabu kaane kombel
Mulgu kohta muru peale,
Lõikas kübaralle põhja
Salaaugu servitie,
Kust kõik sisse kantud koorem
Kaevandikku kukkus alla.
Purask kandis teisel päeval
Koidu piirdel juba koorma
R o o t s i vanu rublasida,
Mis ei kaabu põhjakesta
Mitte jõudnud kinni katta;
Poiss tõi teise hõlmatäie,
Kandis koorma kolmandama,
Kandis neljandama koorma,
Viis veel vara viiet korda,
Kulda lisaks kuuet korda,
Kust ei küllust kübaralle
Siiski saanud sigineda.
Vara kippus vähenema,
Rikkus mehel lõppemaie.
Küll ta kaapis rahakirstud,
Pühkis puhtaks põhjast saadik,
Koristeli kukrukesed,
Sõna tasuks taskusopid.
Töö ja vaev läks siiski tühja,
Nõutamine üsna nurja:
Kübar seisis kerkimata
Ega tahtnud saada täisi,
Kuhja peale kasvatada.
Vetevaimu hakkas viimaks
Alevipoega paluma:
"Lepi võlga laenu peale,
Kannatele, kulla venda!
Kui läeb suvi sügiselle,
Siis ma tasun võla sulle,
Kannan lisa kübaralle,
Kuni tõuseb kuhjanisti."
Alevite armas poega
Väga kaval vastamaie:
"Sarvist härga seotakse,
Sõnast meesta sõlmitakse!
Tee on pikka minejalle,
Aega pikka ootajalle,
Võlga pikka võõra oma;
Maksa mehe lubadused,
Ehk ma täidan ähvardused,
Köidan kinni sinu käigid,
Võrgutan vete väravad,
Et ei looma liikumaie
Saaks, ei sisse sõudemaie
Ega välja veeremaie."
Vennikesel vetevaimul,
Pahareti pojukesel,
Paremat ei olnud pidu,
Kui et koju kõndinekse
Emalt abi otsimaie,
Lisadusta laenamaie.
Salamõtteid sünnitelles
Hakkas petis pajatama:
"Armas Alevite poega!
Lubaduse lepituseks
Tahan täita tõrkumata
Kübara sull′ kuhjadeni,
Kui sa ise tuled kaasa;
Siis ei sigi segadusi,
Pikemalta kuskil pettust."
Vana kaval võrgutaja
Püüdis Alevite poega
Varanduselt ära viia.
Aga Alevite poega
Mõistis mehikese mõtted,
Kurja vaimu kiusamise,
Miska teda püüdis petta;
Seadis sõnad sõudevalle:
"Sammu sina, sõbrakene,
Kalevite kannupoissi,
Võlatalu vaatamaie,
Tema tutvaid teretama.
Aita kanda rahakotti,
Kui on mehel raske koorem;
Mul ei ole mitte mahti
Täna käiki talitada,
Pean kui kalju merepõhjas,
Tugev tammi tuule seessa
Varandusta vahtimaie,
Hõbekogu hoidemaie."
Kalevite kannupoissi
Tõttas käsku täitemaie.
Vetevaimu astus eella,
Alevite abimeesi
Kõndis taga tema kannul,
Tallas tundemata teeda,
Rändas salaradasida
Pimeduse piiridelle,
Kus ei olnud enne käinud
Elav′ inimese jalga,
Veel ei valguslaste silma
Neida kohti enne näinud.
Alevite abimehel
Sõelusivad püksid püüli,
Kui nad pikal teedekäigil
Sõudsid kurja koppelisse,
Varjuriigi vainu alla,
Kus ei koitu kerkimassa,
Ehavalgust helendamas.
Päeval päike seal ei paista,
Kuu ei öösel anna kuma,
Tähesilm ei näita teeda
Pimeduse paikadelle.
Aegamööda hakkas kuma
Valgust teele välkumaie,
Sest et väravate sambas
Tõrvapütid põlesivad.
Kui nad tuppa kahekesi
Üle läve astusivad,
Tulid vetevaimu vennad
Võõrast vastu võttemaie,
Palusivad pingi peale
Laua taha istumaie,
Kuldakannude keskele,
Hõbevaagnate vahele,
Mis kõik võõrale mehele
Talu rikkust tunnistasid,
Pere au avaldasid.
Auahnust arvatakse
Põrguliste päranduseks,
Sestap poisid söömalauda
Võõral′ uhkest valmistasid.
Kalevite kannupoissi
Kartus araks küpsetanud,
Võind ei võtta võõrusrooga
Mitte maitseks kausi seesta,
Võind ei kannust keelekastet,
Mõdu märga, magusada
Mitte suutäit suhutada,
Sest et tulesädemeida
Välkus välja vaagenaista,
Kerkis üles kannudesta,
Põrkas vastu peekerista.
Pahareti pojukesed
Hakkasivad isekeskis
Salajuttu sahkamaie,
Põrgukeelil pajatama,
Vinderdi ja vänderdie,
Laksati kui läti keeli,
Mis ei mõistnud võõras meesi.
Kalevite kannupoissi
Murelikult mõtlemaie,
Agarasti arvamaie:
"Kitsikus ju kipub kätte!
Noorepõlve nurmedelle
Pean ehk, poissi, närtsimaie,
Sõbra varanduse saagil
Salamahti suremaie,
Kus ei nutmas noored neiud,
Käharpead ei kaebamassa.
Ahne Alevite poega,
Kes sa sõbra kammitsasse
Pannud p õ r g u paeladesse,
Poolik muna palju parem
Kui üks tühi koorekene!"
Pärast pikka pajatusta,
Salanõude sobimista
Hakkasivad tulehargid,
Põrgulaste poisikesed
Naljatusel mängimaie;
Võtsid mängiks võõra mehe,
Kes kui kerge kurnikene,
Veerev ratas vainiulla
Lustil pidi lendamaie,
Tuulekiirul tantsimaie.
Põrgu pojad paiskasivad
Kannupoissi kihutelles
Ikka käesta teise kätte;
Mehike kui kassimärssi,
Tuulav takutopikene
Lendas seinast teise seina,
Nurgast teise nurga poole.
Alevipoja sõbrake
Poisikesi palumaie:
"Kiigutajad, kulla vennad!
Laske maha, ma paluksin,
Siia mustale murule,
Siia, põrgu põrmandalle;
Seiske, kuni mõõdan seinad,
Nööritelen nurgakesed,
Paelutan toa pikkused,
Lõngutan toa laiused,
Kust võin kodus kuulutada,
Sõpradelle seletada,
Kuis mind kõrgel keeritati,
Viskeilla veeretati."
Kui sai mahti mehikene,
Puhkamista poisikene,
Võttis nöörid vöö vahelta,
Miska enne mõõtnud sooda,
Raba oli rajatanud,
Hakkas seinu mõõtemaie,
Nurkasida nöörimaie,
Mõõtis poolel pikutie,
Laskis teise laiutie,
Kolmandama kõrgutie,
Neljandama nurgetie,
Uksepiidad pikutie,
Ukseläve laiutie.
Õnnelt pääses üle ukse,
Pääses meesi putkamaie,
Tuulekiirul kihutama.
Mehike ei leidnud mahti
Üle õla ümber vaata,
Kandadelle silma käända,
Enne kui laia ilmale
Pääses päeva paiste′elle,
Kuhu kurja kütkendused,
Põrgulaste paelutused
Pikemalt ei enam puutund.
Vahti oli väravasta,
Uksehoidja hüüatanud:
"Tahad sina teedekäiki
Õnnelikult lõpetada,
Lingupaelust pääseneda,
Kääna käiki hüvakäele!"
Siiski saand ei mehikene
Kiusamata minna koju.
Vahva meesi vallaline
Kui see kägu kuuse otsas,
Laululindu puude ladvus -
Väiksel viisil viletsusi,
Kuusi korda kütkendusi.
Kalevite kannupoissi
Põrgupiinast põgenedes
Leidis korra lingutusi,
Kui üks lita, koerakene,
Kaks veel kaasas kutsikaida,
Temal′ vastu veerenekse.
Lita, juudaliste ema,
Tuli tuiskella T o r i s t a,
Kus ta käinud vihtlemassa.
Sealap Alevite sõbral
Vahi sõnad väravasta
Tulid meelemõtte′esse:
Käänas kohe hüvakäele
Teista teeda tallamaie.
Lendes sõitis litakene
Temast mööda tuhinaga,
Kus ei hiuksekarvakesta
Mitte mehel liigutanud.
Sammusida sirutelles,
Kiiret käiki kõndidessa,
Jõudis Alevite sõber
Viimaks jõekalda äärde,
Kuhu Alev salakoopa
Sügavalle sobitanud
Põrgupoja pettuseksi.
Sügav mulku muru alla
Tunnisteli tehtud tempu,
Kaaneks katetud kübara,
Kuid see rikas rahakoorem
Metsa läinud koos mehega.
Kalevite kannupoissi
Alevi jälgi ajama,
Kuhu sõbrake kadunud.
Vetevaimu, vennikene,
Kihutelles tema kannul,
Poisikesta pilgatelles
Kavalasti küsimaie:
"Kas sul püksis põletaja,
Parmukene istub p...ses?
Miks sa meile, mehikene,
Kullakoorma unustanud?
Ma ep jõudnud ränka kotti
Kodunt üksi ära kanda.
Katsume nüüd tehtud kaupa
Teisipidi toimetada:
Kas ehk rammu katsumaie,
Või ehk võidu jooksemaie,
Kumb saab võidul kuningaksi?"
Vetevaimu, vennikene,
Omas meeles mõtlemaie:
Tarkus on küll nende taskus,
Võimus siiski minu volil.
Kalevite kannupoissi
Mõistis kohe, kostis vastu:
"Kui sul lusti, vennikene,
Läki kohta katsumaie!"
Koha otsimise käigil
Nägid mehed N ä r s k a mäge,
Mis neil kohe meelepärast
Võidumängiksi valida.
Enne veel kui mehed mäele
Sammusida sirutanud,
Tulivad neil vastu teelta
Kange Kalevite poega
Armsa Alevipojaga.
Viimane oli varjupaika
Vetevaimu varanduse
Põõsastikku pannud peitu.
Kalevipoeg pajatama:
"Vaata, kulla vennikene!
Kust sa selle lätikopsu
Saatijaksi oled saanud?
Kust see imekülaline
Sugu poolest siginenud?"
Alevite poega kostis:
"Võõras on mul võlgenikku,
Kellega ma tegin kaupa,
Kes ei täitnud kaabukesta."
Kannupoissi pajatama:
"Võõras on mul vastasmeesi,
Kellega ma tegin kaupa
Võitlemisemängi võtta
Närska mäele naljapärast."
Kalevite kange poega
Pilkamisi pajatama:
"Kasva veel, mu kullakene,
Veni, armas vennikene,
Sirgu, sirgu, sõbrakene,
Kibedama aja kohta;
Võim veel väga väetikene!"
Pajatelles aga pistis
Kannupoisi karmanisse,
Püksitasku paisumaie.
Siisap tõttas kiirel sammul
Närska mäele naljamängi
Võõra vastu võitlemaie.
Mehed võtsid esimängiks
Võidu kiviviskamise,
Kelle kivi kaugemalle
Lingult pidi lendamaie.
Vetevaimu, vennikene,
Pidi eesi paiskamaie
Lingult kivi lendamaie.
Kohmetanud käppadega
Seadis paksu sõrmedega
Poissi kivi poole päeva
Silmuksesse seisemaie.
Laskis lingu lennutelles
Kümme korda ringi käia,
Siis vast paiskas sõudemaie,
Tuulekiirul tuiskamaie.
Kuhu kivi kukkunekse,
Saadik maha sattunekse?
Kivi kukkus järvekalda,
V õ r t s u järve ääre peale,
Kümme sammu servast kaugel.
Kivi võite kopikata
Selgest′ omil silmil näha,
Mis kui kehva mehikese,
Perepopsi saunakene.
Võidu linguviskamine
Käsilla nüüd Kalevilla,
Kel ei olnud tõstekangi,
Vinnapoomi mitte vaja;
Kümne sõrme kohendusel
Talitas ta väikest tööda,
Seadis kivi silmukselle
Parajasti paiga peale.
Kihuteli kange käega
Lingult kivi lendamaie,
Tuulekiirul tuiskamaie.
Tuules tõusis tuhinada,
Kõrgel kuuldi kohinada -
Kivi lendas kauge′elle
Tuisates kui tuulispaska,
Merelainte möllusena,
Lendas P e i p s i ligidalle,
Kukkus ligi järvekalda.
Kes see Peipsi rannas käinud,
Küll see näinud võidukivi.
Vetevaimu, vennikene,
Palus mängi pikendada,
Teisel tükil toimetada.
Kalevipoeg kostis vastu:
"Minupärast, mehikene!
Võitlemista ei ma vihka,
Kiustemängi iial karda;
Võitlemine toetab võimu,
Mängil kosub mehe rammu.
Võtkem kätte vägikaigas,
Kumb meist kumba kangutelles
Kõrgemalle kergiteleb."
Mehed istusid murule,
Jalga toeksi vastu jalga.
Vetevaimu tugev vemmal
Võeti kätte vägikaikaks.
Vetevaimu venitelles
Käsi tahtis katkendada,
Pihasooni kista paigast:
Võind ei siiski vastasmeesta
Kalevida kergitada,
Paigast mitte põrutada.
Kalevipoeg toetas kanna
Valusamalt tema vastu,
Sõlmis kindlamasti sõrmed
Koogutelles kepi külge,
Tõmbas korra tõsiselta,
Viskas vetevaimukese
Nagu tühja takukoonla
Tuule tiivul tuiskamaie.
Pea käis korra kukerpalli,
Jalatallad vastu taevast,
Sõrmed pääsid vägipulgast,
Mees kui lindu lendamaie.
Veeres, liugles seitse versta,
Purjeteli penikoorma,
Raksas maha rägastikku,
Küngastiku keske′elle,
Kus ei võinud kuuel päeval,
Seitsmel silmi seletada,
Kaheksamal kaela kanda,
Liikmeida liigutada,
Põrund keha painutada.
Kalevite kange poega
Naljatusta naeremaie,
Alev hambaid irvitama,
Poissi taskus pilkamaie
Vetevaimu viletsusta.
Kangemeeste naerukära
Käis kui Kõue kärgatused
Läbi laia lagediku,
Paksu metsa põõsastiku,
Maapinda müdistades,
Künkaida kõigutelles.
Alevite armas poega
Pettelugu pajatama,
Kuidas lõhkend kübaraga
Mustapallil mehikesta
Tugevasti oli tüssand,
Vetevaimu vara võtnud.
Alevipoja avaldus:
"Sarvist härga seotakse,
Sõnast meesta sõlmitakse!"
Pani Kalevite poega
Kuuldes kohe kohkumaie:
Mõõga võlg veel maksemata,
Sepa kätte saatemata.
Kalevite kange poega
Seadis sõnad sõudevalle:
"Alevipoeg, armas venda,
Käi sa kiiresti koduje,
Aja hallil alla õue,
Kõrvilla läbi koppeli
Kuulsa Kalevi peresse,
Vana taaleri talusse;
Laena rannast laevakesi,
Laiemaida lodjakesi,
Paremaida paadikesi;
Koorma laevad kulla alla,
Paadid hõbekilda kandma,
Lodjad vara vedamaie;
Palka mehi purjetama,
Tugevamaid tüürimaie,
Sõpru seltsis sõudemaie;
Võta moona, võta vara
Teedekäigi tervituseks!
Pärast aga pane peale:
Üheksa hüva hobuda,
Kaheksa karimärada,
Kaksikümmend lüpsilehma,
Viiskümmend paremat vasikat,
Sada säilitist nisuda,
Poolteist paati rukkiteri,
Tuhat vana taalerida,
Sada paari paaterida,
Kakssada kuldarahada,
Sületäie sõlgesida,
Viie neitsi kaasavara!
Pane lisaks paari paati
Veel mu vanavaraga;
Kanna kallis killakoorem
Sõudes merel S o o m e m a a l e
Kuulsa sepa koduje,
Maksa minu mõõga hinda,
Tasu võlga tingimata,
Lisa kulda pealekauba,
Ootushinnaks hõbedada
Isa lelle lepituseks!"
Alevite armas poega
Tõttas käsku täitemaie,
Ruttas kiirest′ kõndimaie,
H a r j u poole ajamaie.
Kalevite kange poega
Istus maha muru peale
Põõsa varju puhkamaie,
Meeles lugu mõtlemaie,
Asju läbi arvamaie,
Viimseid sõnumeid Virusta,
Kurje vaenukuulutusi.
"Kustap leian kindla koha,"
Pajateleb kange poega,
"Varjupaiga väetimaile?
Veereb vaenuvägesida,
Sõjameeste seltsisida
V i r u laia väljadelle,
J ä r v a raatmaa radadelle,
Siisap tarvis kindlat seina,
Mõnusamaid müürisida
Varjupaigaks vanadelle,
Rahuurkaks raukadelle,
Peidunurgaks piigadelle,
Kaitsetoaks käharpäile,
Nutukambriks nõtradelle,
Leinakojaks leskedelle."
Kalevite kange poega
Mõtles aga targal meelel:
"Lähen laudu lunastama,
Hoone tarbeks ostemaie,
Tahan linnad tugevuseks
Ilusasti ehitada,
Ühe linna eide iluks,
Taadi kalmu kaunistuseks
Kalju peale kasvatada;
Teise linna Taaramäele,
Emajõe kalda äärde,
Varjuks Taara varvikulle,
Kolmandama Jaani kolka
Salasoo sügavusse,
Alutaha ühe l i n n a
Raukadelle redupaigaks,
Vaestelastele varjuksi.
Täna ei ma lähe teele,
Puhkan keha paremini;
Homme varahommikulla
Tõttan teeda tallamaie
P e i p s i j ä r v e piiridelle;
Seni saab Alev Soomessa
Mõõga võla maksemaie."
Tahtis nuga võtta taskust,
Kui tal käsi kogemata
Poisikese külge puutus,
Kes see kui siga kotista
Sealt ei võinud välja saada,
Iseennast avitada.
Kalevite kange poega
Pilkamisel pajatama:
"Kas sa näed, mis kirbukene
Karmanis mul kutisteleb?
Astu välja, vennikene,
Tuuleõhul toibumaie,
Päevapaistel paisumaie,
Kuude valgel kosumaie!
Kuule, kulla kannupoissi,
Märka sõnu, mehikene,
Kui neid kasuks sulle külvan,
Juhatuseks ilmutelen!
Kuule, kotka kasvandikku:
Enne kui sul, äbarikul,
Tugevamad tiibadesse
Sõudvad suled sirgunevad,
Ära kipu lendamaie!
Kui sind kuri kiusamaie,
Vaenumees tuleb võrgutama,
Tulgu tugi tarkusesta,
Arust parem abimeesi;
Püüa vaenlast pilkamisel
Kavalasti kütkendada,
Kuni jõudu kasvanekse,
Rammu tõuseb rohkemasti!
Mis sa, väeti mehikene,
Vetevaimul vägikorral,
Põrgulisel vastu püsiks?"
Alevite sugulane
Mõistis kohe, vastu kostis:
"Mis ma, väeti mehikene,
Vetevaimul vägikorral,
Põrgulisel vastu paneks,
Seda oli selgel silmal
Alevi töö avaldanud,
Kui ta suvikübarada
Seadis katteks koopasuhu.
Nõnda oleksin ma, noori,
Võidumängi valmistanud,
Pilkel põrgulista petnud."
Kalevite kange poega
Seadis sõnad sõudevalle:
"Veni vaksa, vennikene,
Kasva kaksi kõrgemaksi,
Paisu, poissi, paksemaksi,
Kosuta end kangemaksi
Edaspidise elule,
Tuleva aja tuluksi!
Jää sa siia teedejuhiks,
Kuni lähen kaugemalle,
P e i p s i j ä r v e piiridelle
Tarbelikku talitama!
Kui siin kiireküüdilisi,
Sõjasõnumite sõudjaid
Virusta peaks veeremaie,
Vea neid, sõber, viibimata
P e i p s i j ä r v e piiridelle,
Kuhu käiki kinnitelen,
Asjulla ehk viidan aega!"
Juttu vestes võeti õhtuks
Toitu keha toetuseks,
Keelekastet karastuseks,
Enne kui maha heideti,
Põõsa varju puhkamaie.
Ööde rüüdi kattis kinni,
Vaikuskuube vaarikuida,
Lukuteli linnukeeled,
Elavate häälitsused;
Siugu sitika vilulla,
Suveilul laulis sirtsu,
Sääski lennul sirisedes,
Rääku rukkipõllu pealta,
Vutti vete kallastelta,
Muud ei kuskil elumärki,
Kaugel kuskil kuulutajaid,
Hõbenokal häälitsejaid.
Taevast vaatasivad tähed,
Paistis kuu palgekene
Vaikselt puhkajate peale.
Unenägu kudus kuube
Suikujate silma ette.
I l m a n e i t s i k e ilusa,
K õ u e tütar käharpeaga,
Sinisirje linnukene,
Lendas palju, liugles palju,
Lendas laia laane sisse,
Kus ei enne käinud karja,
Käinud karja, hulkund orja;
Ladvul käinud linnu jalga,
Sambla alt salasiuke:
Sinna neitsi sammumaie,
Lustiteeda tallamaie.
Mis ta metsas märkinekse,
Mis ta teelta tähtinekse?
Kaev oli sügav kaevatud,
Urgas põhjatu uuritud.
Kaevule käis karjateesid,
Radasida rahva jälgist.
Ilmaneitsike ilusa,
Kõue tütar käharpeaga,
Kaevust võtma keelekastet,
Kuldakoogul koogitsema,
Hõbepangel püüdemaie.
Metsa poega, poisikene,
Kõversilma kasvandikku,
Nägi kena neitsikese
Vetta kaevust vinnamassa,
Tahtis tõtata abiksi.
Ilmaneitsike ilusa,
Kõue tütar käharpeaga -
Ehk oli poissi ehmatades
Kätta lasknud kallakille -
Kaotas sõrmukse sõrmesta.
Ilmaneitsike ilusa,
Kõue tütar käharpeaga,
Sinisirje linnukene,
Kurvalt häda kurtemaie,
Sõbrameesta soovimaie,
Abimeesta meelitama:
Kes see sõrmukse sügavast,
Kulla võtaks vete alta?
Kalevite kallis poega
Kuulis neitsi kurvastusta,
Linnu nukra leinamista,
Tõttas abiks tütterelle.
Seadis sõnad sõudevalle:
"Mis sa nutad, neitsikene,
Mis sa kaebad, käharpeaga,
Leinad, kena linnukene?"
Ilmaneitsike ilusa
Mõistis kohe küsimise,
Laulis vastu lahke′esti:
"Mis ma nutan, neitsikene,
Mis ma kaeban, käharpeaga?
Vetta kaevusta vinnates
Kaotin sõrmukse sõrmesta,
Veeres, kuld, mul vete alla."
Kalevite kange poega
Kargas kohe kaevupõhja,
Tõttas sõrmust otsimaie.
Sortsilased suurel seltsil
Kalevipoega kiusama:
"Hiir on ise hüpand lõksu,
Karu kammitsa kaevusse!
Võtke kivi, vennikesed,
Kukutagem kukla peale,
Kange mehe kaela peale!"
Veskikivi veeretati
Kiirest′ kaevuraketelle,
Kõrgelt kaevu kukutati,
Mis pidi mehe murdemaie,
Suure karu surmamaie.
Kalevite kallis poega,
Kui ta otsind tüki aega,
Kargas jälle kaevu peale.
Mis tal sõrmukseks sõrmessa?
Veskikivi veereb käessa,
Sõrm käib läbi silmuksesta.
Kalevipoeg küsimaie:
"Ilmaneitsike ilusa,
Kõue tütar käharpeaga,
Sinisirje linnukene,
Kas see sõrmus on sinulta,
Mis sul kaevu on kukkunud,
Vete alla on veerenud?
Muud ei leidnud ma mudasta,
Suuremat ei puutund sõrme."
Source Colophon
Estonian source text from Project Gutenberg eBook of Kalevipoeg by Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald (EBook #25062). The text is in the public domain. Presented here alongside the English translation for verification and scholarship.
🌲