The Founding of the City

The Kalevipoeg (Son of Kalev) is the Estonian national epic, compiled by Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald (1803–1882) from folk songs, oral traditions, and his own literary composition. Published in its definitive form in 1857–1861, it tells in twenty cantos the life of the giant hero Kalevipoeg — son of the mythical king Kalev and his wife Linda — from his birth through his adventures to his tragic end chained at the gates of the underworld.

Canto XV is the canto of confrontation and founding. Kalevipoeg, returning from the underworld with gold, boards, and three rescued maidens, is pursued by Tühi (the Empty One, Sarvik's brother-in-law) with seventy companions. A maiden's magic switch conjures a sea behind the hero and a bridge before him. From across the waters, Tühi interrogates Kalevipoeg in eight ritual questions — each answered with cheerful mockery. After a witch-maiden's attempt to drown him with a conjured spring, Kalevipoeg meets Olevipoeg the master builder, and together they found a city in the forests of Viru. The three underworld maidens are given in marriage — but the middle sister, left without a suitor, is abducted by a wind-sorcerer and rescued by the brothers-in-law.

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 (#25062). The parallelism and alliteration of Estonian regivärss are preserved in the line structure. No existing English translation was consulted as a source.

Part One — The Singer's Prologue

(Lines 1–51)

If the villages would hear me,
The manors understand my thoughts,
The parishes receive
What I warble in my song —
Then perhaps some child would go
To plead with the pastors,
To bow before the black-robes,
That they might kindly take
To ransom the song-rooster,
To free him from the chains of hatred.
Hawks came to tear,
Crows to pluck his feathers,
Church-magistrates to torment,
Before the child got out onto the open,
The poor lad into the daylight,
The weakling rolled onto the meadow.

These are a herd-child's songs,
A serf-boy's trills,
A broom-girl's croonings,
Old women's spinning-wheel songs —
Unwanted by the wise,
Uncommanded by the great,
Unordered by the high!
A child's joys, a child's sorrows,
A young meadow's lullabies,
Spring's twilight shapes,
Dusk's little hints.

Dear son of Kalev!
Had you known, been able to know
What comes to hinder your step
And fetter your stride,
Perhaps before your birth,
Before coming forth from mother,
You'd have gone in fear already down the well.

A singer, once gone walking
For pleasure on the meadow,
Does not turn back from the road
Nor twist his path.
Dogs won't chase the man away,
Hounds from his joyful road!
Musti barks from the village green,
Krantsik from the pasture,
Tuksu from the village street:
The man won't heed the dogs,
Won't fear the envious. —
Let us go to the song-meadows,
To Kalev's hillocks,
To Alev's leas,
To Sulev's marshes,
To the maidens' meadows
To pluck joy-flowers!

Part Two — The Bridge of Magic

(Lines 52–102)

Kalev's strong son
Had not yet walked a hundred paces,
Not a thousand along the road
Toward home,
When already the mob of tormentors
Raced at his heels
To knot his steps,
To fetter his swift stride.
Tühi-taati, he comes
With seventy companions
To torment Kalevipoeg;
He wanted the brother-in-law's quarrel,
Sarve-taadi's trouble,
To make the hero pay,
To repay a thousandfold.

The youngest slender maiden,
Stretching her eyes,
Looks upon the enemies,
Waving the magic switch,
Herself chanting thus:
"Wave, magic switch,
Give birth to wishes!
Turn this land into sea,
The meadows wide into waves,
The thickets into water-currents!
Before him bring forth a bridge,
Behind him roll up water!
A bridge before the voyager,
The bearer of the golden burden;
Water behind the enemies,
Behind Sarvik-taadi's companions!"

As the maiden spoke,
Soon by the magic switch's power
The thing was done thus:
The flat land rippled as a sea,
Water-currents rolled,
Swung on the wind's cradle.
But the strong bridge carries
Kalevipoeg dry-footed
Across the wide waves;
Before his step a bridge was born,
Behind his heel the water grew,
Tossing foam up high,
Hindering Tühi's sons,
Who like hens on a high roost
Saw from the shore the harm —
How the hawk in its talons
Had carried off the starling's son;
Yet neither seize the hawk
Nor clip its wings
Did the poor wretches' counsel find.
Sarvik-taadi's companions,
Staring at the strange sight,
Among themselves marveling:
Whence the sea upon the meadow,
Waves upon the open field?

Part Three — Tühi's Eight Questions

(Lines 103–258)

Old Tühi called out:
"Kalevipoeg, dear brother,
Did you carry off our house-hens,
The little grouse from our room,
The foster-children from our chamber?"
Kalev understood, answered back,
Spoke with mockery:
"Indeed I carried them, little brother,
Unknowing, the house-hens,
The little grouse from your room,
The foster-children from your chamber;
I led the maidens to the light,
The curly-necks to the wooing-road,
To the suitor-horse's paths."

Tühi asked a second time:
"Kalevipoeg, dear brother,
Did you defeat the brother-in-law
In the contest on the field,
Drive him in as a post
To stand in the sandy soil,
Deep into the sand?"
Kalevipoeg answered back,
Spoke with mockery:
"Indeed I defeated the brother-in-law
In the contest on the field,
Drove him in as a post —
From which, if he didn't break his bones,
Let no blame fall upon me!"

Tühi asked again,
Pressing the matter further:
"Kalevipoeg, dear brother,
Did you imprison the cake-baker,
The old woman, lock her in the mousetrap,
In the bread-chest to lie?"
The son of Kalev answered,
Spoke with mockery:
"Indeed I put her, little brother,
The cake-baker,
The old woman in a prisoner's chest,
Locked in the mousetrap,
In the bread-chest to sleep,
Shut up to slumber,
Where, if the flea hasn't woken her,
Granny sleeps still."

Tühi-taati asked,
Pressing for the outcome:
"Kalevipoeg, dear brother,
Did you perhaps take the sword from its peg,
Secretly the war-blade,
Rob Sarvik of his iron?"
Kalev understood, answered back,
Spoke with mockery:
"Indeed I took it, little brother,
Took the little sword from its peg,
The weapon from the bedpost,
Robbed Sarvik of his iron.
A peg should not carry a weapon of war,
A bedpost not bear a war-blade!
A sword is made to be a man's own,
A man is nothing without a sword
Nor a sword without a man."

Tühi asked again,
Pressing the matter further:
"Kalevipoeg, dear brother,
Did you take the brother-in-law's hat,
Snatch the wishing-cap
From behind the bed upon the wall?"
The son of Kalev answered,
Spoke with mockery:
"Indeed I took it, little brother,
Took the brother-in-law's hat,
Perhaps snatched the wishing-cap
From behind the bed upon the wall.
That cap can no longer be worn
On the heads of the sons of the underworld:
Already that cap is charred,
The wishing-cap burned to coal,
Blown already to ashes."

Tühi-taati asked,
Pressing the matter further:
"Kalevipoeg, dear brother,
Did you go to the gold-chamber
To take the old treasure,
To seize the thalers,
To scatter the small coin,
To steal the old copper?"
The son of Kalev answered,
Spoke with mockery:
"Indeed I went, little brother,
Happened into the gold-chamber
To look at the old treasure,
To seize the thalers,
To gather the gold-crumbs;
I didn't touch the small coin,
I didn't destroy the silver,
Nor did I steal the copper.
I took sack-fulls of gold,
A pair of barrels of thalers.
I gathered a small load,
From the chest ten horses' worth,
Twenty cartloads' share;
Took a load of old treasure,
Six measures' worth of gold."

Tühi asked again,
Pressing for the outcome:
"Kalevipoeg, dear brother,
Did you take the magic switch,
The secret bridge-maker?"
The son of Kalev answered,
Spoke with mockery:
"Indeed, little brother,
The maiden took the magic switch,
The currant-eye the bridge-maker.
Power doesn't go to steal a switch,
Strength doesn't rob a rod."

Tühi-taati asked,
Pressing the matter further:
"Kalevipoeg, dear brother,
Did you bring harm upon the hens,
Something damaging upon the smooth-legged ones,
Raise something hurtful,
Give birth to something guilty?"
Kalev understood, answered back,
Spoke with mockery:
"Indeed I answer, little brother,
I'll speak of it perhaps another time —
What in the chamber for the hens,
The smooth-legged ones, while playing,
I may have given in the night for their fortune,
Secretly arranged."

Tühi finally asked,
Pressing to settle the matter:
"Kalevipoeg, dear brother,
Will you come another time
To settle the quarrel?"
Kalev understood, answered back,
Speaking with mockery:
"Who can know, little brother,
How things will go,
How the wind will blow.
When I lack coins,
Then perhaps I'll come another time
To clean out the gold-chamber,
To empty the thaler-chest,
Settle the old quarrels
Together with the new debts."

Then Tühi-taati stormed
With his seventy companions
Toward home in a fury,
As if there were fire-sparks in his pocket,
A horsefly stinging in his breeches.

Part Four — The Hero's Burden

(Lines 259–319)

If I twist Kalevipoeg's steps
From the maiden's road,
Turn them to another farmstead's yard,
Another field's edge,
Another clearing's road,
Then I must beg your pardon:
A bit of the story has gone to the wind,
Another rolled into the water.

The day's last light
Reddened the treetops
To a golden gleaming,
Before it snuffed its candle
In evening's embrace.
Kalev's strong son
Had today many tasks,
Many vexations
Already in several places,
And the burden on his back
Had pressed the man all the harder,
Squeezed his sinews.
At dusk he threw down the load,
The boards upon the open field,
The gold-sacks at the hillock's edge,
Sat down upon the grass
To rest a little,
Took bread, wet his tongue
To refresh his worn body.
With the making of a bed
The weary man did not bother —
He threw himself upon the grass,
A stone beneath his head for a pillow;
He wanted to rest a while,
To stretch his back-sinews,
Tried to lighten his thought-heavy head
In the dewy cool.

The news received today,
The tidings were grievous:
Alevipoeg's accounts
Had confirmed the truth —
How in the sorceress's fetters,
The witch's bonds,
He had slumbered seven weeks,
Lain in forgotten sleep.
Meanwhile heavy war,
The blood-hungry war-wagon
Had birthed wretched suffering in Viru,
Danger in Alutaguse,
Given heavy death.
Six were the mournful tidings,
Seven the wretched messages
That now pressed heavily
On the man's mind on the grass;
Sleep could not for a long time,
Though it tried to capture him,
Veil his eye
Beneath its curtain.
At last the night's coolness,
The refreshing dew-cold
Conquered his thoughts in sleep.

Part Five — The Witch-Maiden's Spring

(Lines 320–419)

The weariness had not long
Stretched Kalevipoeg's back
Upon the grass,
When already the wet dew at his side
Began to touch his hips.
Already the moistener
Was rising higher,
Pressing toward his neck,
Touching his head —
But at first, in heavy sleep's numbness,
The sleeper could not tell
Whether this side-wetting
Was dream or reality's doing.

Those who have experienced it
Can explain this best:
How at the onset of sleep
The dream-visions
Darken the truth-letter;
From the deepest sleep's bosom
It is easier to wake at night
Than from that first sleep.

Kalev's strong son —
The man could not figure out
The warm wetness, the left-side soaker,
Could not solve the riddle,
Could not escape the sleep-bond.
Already the wide little waves,
Threatening danger,
Pressed to cover the man,
For the warm-wet veins
Were rising higher.

Luckily he escaped the sleep-bond
In time to notice,
Before the water-flood
Had gone to drown him.
Tearing free from sleep's fetters,
Clearing his eyes,
He began to look around
At the strangeness all about:
Whence had a spring on the open field
Birthed a great stream?
His eye's sight found
The water-eye's gate,
Whence the spring, falling,
Had birthed the warm stream.

One of those witch-maidens,
Daughters of the wind-sorcerer,
Was squatting upon the hill,
Producing the warm wetness,
Foolishly trying
To drown the sleeper on the grass.

Kalev's strong son
Heaved himself upright,
Looking around with startled eyes —
Whence grows this stream,
Whence is this warm spring born?
The witch-maiden's jest
Set the strong man thinking:
If I could plug the spring,
Knot the little veins,
Imprison the gate!
By fortunate chance
The stone pillow fell
To the strong man's hand.
Gripping the stone with his fingers,
He aimed for an instant,
Hurled the stone whistling
On target sailing.

Where did the stone fall?
The stone fell to the lucky spot,
A knot before the eye,
So that from the water-gate
Waves could no longer reach the field.
The sorcerer-father's young daughter
Screamed in agony,
Called for help in her distress:
"Come, wise little fathers,
Healers, come and help!"
But neither healer's aid
Nor sorcerer's skill
Could diminish the wound.
In long torment
The maiden withered away.

Yet the stream-birthing spring,
The imprisoned water-gate,
Even now declares the matter,
Giving a memorial sign.
From behind the black stone's hole
Water-veins trickle forth,
Iron-stream birthing,
Where Kalev hurled the stone as a plug
Into the water-gate.

Kalev's dear son,
When he had plugged the stream,
Stretched his weary back
On the dry hillock-edge,
Lay down again to sleep,
Where no more tormentors
Came to break his rest.
When he had tarried until daylight,
Refreshing his body,
The bright Creator's cockerel,
The dawn-hen crowed,
Waking the weary man.

Part Six — Homecoming and the Stranger

(Lines 420–471)

Waking from the sleep-bond,
The fellow took bread
To strengthen his body;
Then, arranging his load,
He stacked a pile of boards,
Threw upon it the riches,
The far-fetched gold-sacks,
The thaler-pockets,
Hoisted the load upon his back,
The fortune-harvest to his shoulders,
And began walking homeward,
Stretching his steps.

Home was no longer far,
The farm no longer behind the forest,
The nesting-place not hidden from the bird.
The wind had already brought greetings,
The breezes good wishes
From the widow's birch-grove,
Where the master was not home.
A stranger might at the gate
Have stood waiting with watchful eyes.
Seven league-mile steps
Vanished on swift heels,
Rolled under the toes.
The man had nowhere more
Any pause or hindrance,
No fetter on his step.

When he rolled into the farmyard,
Into the field's gateway,
Luckily into the yard:
What bound his step there,
Began to slow his stride,
To tarry his haste?
A guest come from far away,
A strange man stepped toward him.
He greeted him with hat raised,
Set his words sailing,
The talk straight on its line:
"Whence, son of Kalev,
Whence did you buy the board-load,
Ransom the city-planks?
Where did these trunks grow,
Their tops spread wide?
One could make towers from them,
Raise fortresses,
Build shelters,
A stronghold in time of war."

Part Seven — The Founding of the City

(Lines 472–615)

Kalevipoeg understood at once,
Answered cleverly:
"Where these saplings once grew,
These shoots once stretched,
These sprouts once sprouted,
These seeds once stood —
There grew a great grove,
Swelled a thick forest,
Grew fine spruce-forest,
Rose a sturdy oak-forest,
Many a place pine-forest.
The axe felled the tall forest,
The tapper struck the oak-forest,
Thundered down the pine-forest,
Destroyed the spruce-forest;
The saw sawed on the current's course,
Split logs into boards,
Tore the thick ones into splinters;
From there I found the city-planks,
Carried home the load.
Towers cannot be made from them —
Towers are made of steel;
Fortresses cannot be raised from them —
Fortresses are made of stone."

The guest replied:
"Grant me, dear brother,
Grant the boards on loan,
If you won't sell at market,
Give them for a price!
I am a master city-builder,
A raiser of strong places,
A maker of mighty towers.
I have journeyed far and wide,
Through the world roaming,
Journeyed through three kingdoms,
Four maidens' meadows,
Five strangers' fields.
I came lately from Taara's mountain,
From the long celebrations,
Where the son of Kalev
Has long been awaited."

Speaking at length,
Weaving courteous talk,
The wise men became acquainted,
The fellows made friends.
Kalevipoeg heard
How, by fortunate chance,
By the gods' guidance,
The world-famous city-builder,
Raiser of strong places,
Maker of mighty towers —
Olevipoeg, the building-sage —
Had come to greet him,
To visit a brother abroad.

The men became friends,
Then bargained firmly,
Confirming solidly,
So that later no quarrel would arise,
No hostile disputes.
Olevipoeg promised to build a city,
To construct it beautifully,
To raise it as a strong place,
To build it as a shelter.
Kalev would carry stones,
Bring boards and fitting logs,
Sturdy oaks,
Pleasant pines,
Tall spruces
From the forest for the city's need,
And also pay the wages —
The work's toil in thalers,
The handiwork in gold,
The detail-work in pennies,
The rest in silver coins.

When then Olevipoeg, for fortune's sake,
Had kept a three-day fast
Without a bite to eat,
Had sacrificed at Uku's stone,
Bowed at the dawn-border,
At twilight-light had summoned
The helping spirits to the sage's work,
Then he laid the wood-shavings
In two heaps,
Gave offerings to the guiding gods,
To the heavenly sages,
That from the ant-race
They might bring visible signs:
Where best to place the dwellings,
Where the livestock barns
Most fittingly might stand.

Olevipoeg, the building-sage,
By the shaving-path's guidance
Began founding the city,
Laying the strong place,
Setting down logs,
Arranging stones,
Stringing the corners,
Bringing supports,
Setting pillars upright.

Guess, guess, young men,
Tell, wise women,
Reckon, broad-minded boys:
What walls are being built,
What ramparts raised
Among Viru's fir-chill,
Among Lääne's alders,
Among Harju's aspens!

There was founded a city of joy,
Raised a strong place,
Dug stone cellars
As shelter for the elders,
Made fine dwellings,
Rich trading-chambers,
Done skillfully,
Paid wisely.
Five axes were chopping,
A hundred saws sawing,
A thousand tapper-axes hewing.

Kalev carried cartloads
Of boards for the city's needs
On the long road from behind Peipus,
Carried together the needed timber,
Trunk-loads by thousands
From old Taara's oak-grove,
Carried stones from farther still,
Cliffs from the seashore,
Egg-stones from the meadow,
Broke bedrock from the earth-bottom.

Let us leave the fellows
Building their proud city,
Their shelter,
Whence shall come a palace for the king,
A roof for the elder,
Whence Kalev with his strong hand
Shall rule a great realm,
Wisely manage,
Close the war-clamour,
Calm the hatred of foes,
Nurture the people's fortune,
Raise a generation of prosperity!

Let us roll the song-spindle,
The golden-thread twisting,
The silver-border whirling,
To run on another line!

Part Eight — The Three Brides

(Lines 616–693)

Let us go to the maidens' meadow,
Into the curly-heads' paddock
To spy on stories,
To glimpse secrets!

The underworld maidens,
Three fair girls,
Kalevipoeg had given
To Alevipoeg's shelter,
To his dear friend's keeping,
When he had heard the sad news,
Had understood the length of his sleeping
That had cost him time.

Kalevipoeg spoke:
"Take, dear brother,
The house-hens to raise!
Set the ducks upon their nests
To attract young men:
Surely a suitor will come
At dawn to court them —
A Viru lad to take,
A Harju lad to tempt,
A Lääne lad to ransom!"

Alevipoeg, the dear son,
Like a rooster in a basket,
Courted the third maiden at once
As his own wife —
Who blossomed like a pea-pod,
A little bean flowering in the yard.
Sulevipoeg, the kinsman,
Chose the eldest maiden
For his evening-fortune.
The third sister, the middle one,
The slender underworld maiden
Who found no sweetheart's embrace,
Had to grieve as a widow.

When then the sisters in company,
The wonder-children among themselves,
Walked three by three
Through the oak-grove,
Stepped through the hazel-forest,
Asking one another,
Bride asking bride:
"How, sister, is your life
In the sweetheart's caress?"

To the question came the answer:
"Beautiful, sister, is my life,
Fair in the sweetheart's embrace!
Sick I am laid down at evening,
Well I rise again;
The sickness fell beneath the bed,
The illness shaken into the straw.
Beautiful, sister, is my life,
Sleeping in a golden bed,
Resting on golden pillows!
Golden food in my bowls,
Golden drink in my jugs,
Golden paths on my floor!"

The second sister told her tale,
Spoke her words thus:
"Beautiful, sister, is my life,
Fair in the sweetheart's embrace!
In silk I am led to bed,
In silk I rise from bed,
In silk the bed is made,
In silk the pillow laid!
Beautiful, sister, is my life,
Fair is my fortune's course:
Gold I am called,
Silver I am hailed!
I would sing yet more broadly,
But many songs have left my mind,
Many I have lost from my tongue.
From my head went many a tune,
From my hand many a kantele-song."

The third sister with tear-brimmed brows
Could not utter a word.
Weeping she walked
Behind the others through the oak-grove.
Who will quench that sorrow,
Who will come to comfort the grief?

Part Nine — The Tuuslar's Obsession

(Lines 694–815)

In Alutaguse lived a sage,
Widely known as a wind-sage,
From whom the people in droves
Came seeking wisdom,
Seeking help in trouble.
He sought to end the maiden's weeping,
To finish her grief.

The Tuuslar had built a house,
Raised a dwelling
In the middle of a wide clearing.
The sage's room was made of oak,
The cornerstones from the north's swiftness
Were plumbed on a sorcerer's plank,
Bewitched with Finnish salt.
Soot-black sorcerer's cords
Made the corners angular,
Made the gables pointed,
Bent the wall-logs
To fit properly together.
Of pine the base-logs,
Of spruce the curved-logs,
Doorposts of rowan,
Threshold-boards of western alder,
Threshold-logs of dogwood,
Rafters of straight linden,
Birch-boards of maple,
The ceiling of bird-cherry,
Of hazel the rafter-beams,
Of juniper the ridge-poles,
Of patterned birch the roof-boards,
Gutter-pens of apple-wood,
The other pens of fine wood,
Of cone-wood the rooster-pens,
Floor-beams of elm,
The floor of knee-clay,
Of healing-herb branches
Stamped in with moss,
Poured in by the wind.

From the north came the mumblers,
From the western forests the chanting-women,
From the wind-island the conjurers,
From Finland the salt-blowers.

The Tuuslar himself, the wind-sage,
When wandering far,
Roaming wide,
Saw the wonder-maidens
Who like hens on a high roost
Sat upon Kalevipoeg's board-load,
Upon the gold-load,
Singing their song-joy.

Watching from the shadow,
Spying secretly,
He saw how the wonder-children
Were later given to Alevipoeg
As fosterlings to raise;
Saw the fair maidens,
The wonder-children among themselves,
Playing on the meadow in the sunshine,
Frolicking in youthful joy;
Saw the fair maidens
Among themselves on the field at evening
Kicking their light feet,
Shrieking on the swing,
Shouting their fortune-song;
Saw the fair maidens
In the moonlight three together
Sleeping in love's embrace,
Slumbering in silk beds;
Saw the fair maidens,
The wonder-children among themselves,
At the dew-border at dawn
Washing their rosy cheeks,
Stroking their silken hair,
Combing with golden combs. —

He had no courage to go near,
Nor heart to take to his bosom.
He tried only by stealth
To catch the maidens,
Lurked secretly in their footsteps,
Nights and days without cease.

When now the two strong suitors
Had come,
The lonely maiden with widow's head
Sat in the evening twilight
Alone before the door,
Watched in the moonlight
For mourning-cloaks from the alder-grove,
For grief-cloaks from the birch-grove!
Watched the withered leaves
Weaving golden robes
With which from the summer's steps
The autumn was sifted.

When the two sweethearts went together
Homeward, each with company,
Each sweetheart with a golden embrace,
Each lover with a lover:
The middle maiden had
No sweetheart to protect her,
No lover to shelter her.

Where was the poor hen,
The lone duck at the flock's edge,
To lay her head at evening:
At a stone's side, at a stump's side,
At the cliff's cold embrace,
At the rock's nest, at the pine's foot,
At the alder's straight bosom,
At the birch's dear arms,
At the aspen's grey lap,
Under the juniper's fur-coat,
Under the goat-beard's shelter?

To whom to pour her grieving mind,
To whom to mourn her pains,
To whom to roll her anger,
To whom confess her cares?

Part Ten — The Rescue

(Lines 816–895)

The Tuuslar thought, the wind-sage:
"Fortune's hour has come to me,
Love has been allotted to me!"
He sprang from the thick bushes
Like a hawk upon hens,
Took the maiden by thief's force,
By hawk's talons into his hands,
Shut the poor girl's mouth
So she could not scream,
Could not call for help.

The Tuuslar hurried homeward,
Wanted to hide the prey in his shelter,
To take the child behind lock,
Then try to charm the maiden
With honeyed tongue,
Gently to soothe her,
To entice her with love-prayers.

When now the strong brothers-in-law,
From the brides' weeping,
From the currant-eye's tears,
Had understood the matter —
How the hen in the hawk's talons
Had been carried to a stranger's field,
The goose to another's well,
The duck to another flock's edge,
The swan to other waves —
They sent at once a friend,
A light-footed serving-boy
To find the maiden's tracks.

By the bird-tongues' dispatch,
On the third evening
The young man had seen the maiden's tracks.
He turned quickly homeward
To tell the friends.

Sulevipoeg rode to war,
Alevipoeg to the battle-road,
Friends to the paths of death;
They went to rescue the maiden,
To snatch the hen from the hawk,
To free her from the thief's claws.

At the threat of danger
The Tuuslar, the wind-sage,
By the birthing of a sorcerer's word
Made a wide lake ripple
As a shield against the enemies.
The wondrous apparition
Made trouble for the comers:
No boat could be found,
No vessel at the ready,
To cross over the waves.

Alevipoeg, dear brother,
Who by good fortune from home
Had taken the magic switch
As companion on the war-road,
Waved the switch,
Himself chanting the wish:
"A bridge before me,
A bridge before the marcher!"
In an instant a bridge was born,
A league's length.

They rode across the bridge,
The strong men two together,
Storming into the Tuuslar's farmstead;
They smashed the door-locks,
Scattered the doorposts to pieces,
Then slew the wind-sage,
Freed the maiden from captivity,
Set upon the Tuuslar's farmstead
A fire-rooster on the rooftop.

From the farmstead burned to ashes
No more traces remained
Than the pathway's stone walls.
Whoever happens by good fortune
To walk there on a summer's night,
He will hear lamentations,
Grieving tales,
As the Tuuslar, the wind-sage,
Moans upon the wind-gusts
Of the ruin of destruction,
Of the fair dwelling's loss.

Part Eleven — The Ending

(Lines 896–910)

Olevipoeg, the building-sage,
Later courted the third
Foster-child as his house-hen,
Whom the strong brothers-in-law
Had freed from the thief's power.

Thus were the young maidens,
The underworld-freed girls,
By good fortune's guidance,
By kinsmen's wishes,
Become the strong men's wives;
They bore sons in ample laps,
Brought forth a famous race —
Of whom the old-age tales
Whisper a hundred secrets
And testify a thousand stories.

Colophon

Translated from the Estonian of Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald's Kalevipoeg (1857) as preserved in Project Gutenberg (#25062). The fifteenth of twenty cantos. Approximately 910 verse lines translated from 19th-century literary Estonian.

No existing English translation was consulted as a source. The English is independently derived from Kreutzwald's Estonian text, preserving the parallelism, kenning-compounds, and alliterative rhythm of the original regivärss tradition.

Notable elements: the singer's prologue defending his humble songs as a herd-child's and serf-boy's, Tühi's eight ritual questions across enchanted water — each answered with cheerful mockery and escalating impudence — the witch-maiden's spring (an aetiological tale of a real iron-red spring), Olevipoeg the master builder and the founding of a city through ant-divination, the triple wedding and the middle sister's grief, the Tuuslar's obsessive watching from the bushes, the abduction and rescue using the same magic switch from Canto XIV, and the Tuuslar's ghost moaning on summer nights. The canto's structure mirrors its theme: the hero who plundered the underworld must now build something from what he took.

Scribed by Koivu (Tulku Uralic Alpha, Life 24) for the New Tianmu Anglican Church, March 2026.

🌲

Source Text: Kalevipoeg — Viisteistkümnes Lugu

Estonian text of Kalevipoeg Canto XV, from the 1857 first edition of Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald, as preserved in Project Gutenberg (#25062). Approximately 910 verse lines in literary Estonian regivärss.

Kui mind külad kuuleksivad,
Mõisad mõtteid mõistaksivad,
Vallad vastu võtaksivad,
Mis ma laulus lõksutelen, -
Siis ehk läheks mõni lapsi
Pappisida palumaie,
Mustikuubi kummardama,
Et nad heldest′ võtaksivad
Laulukukke lunastada,
10Vihavaenust vabastada.
Kullid tulid kiskumaie,
Kaarnad sulgi katkumaie,
Kirikuhakid kiusamaie,
Enne kui lapsi lagedalle,
Pojukene päevapaiste,
Väeti veeres vainiulle.
Need on karjalapse laulud,
Teopoiste trallikesed,
Korrapiiga kõõrutused,
20Vanaeide vokilaulud,
Targemate tahtemata,
Suuremate sundimata,
Kõrgemate käskimata!
Lapse lustid, lapse leinad,
Noore nurme nukukesed,
Kevadised ehakujud,
Videviku viitekesed.
Kallis Kalevite poega!
Kui oleks teadnud, võinud teada,
30Mis tuleb sammu segamaie
Ja su käiki kütkendama,
Ehk sa oleks enne sündi,
Enne emast ilmumista
Kartes juba läinud kaevu.
Laulik, kui ta lusti luhal
Korra läinud kõndimaie,
Teelta ei enam tagane
Ega käikida kõverda.
Penid meest ei aja pakku,
40Koerad rõõmukäigilt metsa!
Haugub M u s t i külamurult,
Krantsikene karjamaalta,
T u k s u külatänavasta:
Mees ei koeri meelitama,
Kadedaid ei kartemaie. -
Läki laululuhtadelle,
Kalevite küngastelle,
Alevite aasadelle,
Sulevite soode peale,
50Neiukeste nurmedelle
Ilulilli noppimaie!
Kalevite kange poega
Saand ei sammu veel sadatki,
Tuhatki ei mööda teeda
Kodu poole kõndimaie,
Kui ju kiusajate karja
Kihuteli tema kannul
Sammusida sõlmimassa,
Kiiret käiki kütkendamas.
60T ü h i-taati, see tulekse
Seitsmekümne selli seltsis
Kalevida kiusamaie;
Tahtis kälimehe tüli,
S a r v e-taadi segadusta
Mehepojal ära maksta,
Tuhande võrra tasuda.
Noorem piiga peenikene
Silmasida sirutelles
Vaenlasi vaatanekse,
70Vitsakesta vibutama,
Ise nõnda häälitsema:
"Vibutele, nõiavitsa,
Sigitele soovimista!
Moonda see maa mereksi,
Luhad laialt laineteksi,
Võsukesed vetevooksi!
Ette silda sünnitele,
Taha vetta veeretele!
Silda ette sõudijalle,
80Kullakoorma kandijalle;
Vetta taha vaenlastelle,
S a r v i k-taadi sellidelle!"
Kuidas piiga pajatanud,
Varsti nõiavitsa võimul
Lugu nõnda luuaksegi:
Lage lainetas merena,
Vetevooge veereteli,
Tuulekiigul kiiguteli.
Aga kindel silda kannab
90Kuivi jalu Kalevida
Üle laiade lainete;
Sammu ette sündis silda,
Kanna taha kasvas vesi
Vahtu kõrgele visates,
Tühja poegi takistelles,
Kes kui kanad kõrgelt õrrelt
Merekaldalt kahju nägid,
Kuidas kullikene küüsis
Värvukese poja viinud;
100Kulli siiski kinnitada,
Tiibadesta takistada
Mehikeste nõu ei näinud.
Sarvik-taadi sellikesed
Võõrast lugu vaatamaie,
Isekeskis imestama:
Kustap meri murudelle,
Lained tulnud lagedalle?
Vana T ü h i küsimaie:
"K a l e v i p o e g, kulla venda,
110Kas sa viisid kodukanad,
Tedrekesed meie toasta,
Kasulapsed kamberista?"
Kalev mõistis, kostis vastu,
Pilkamisi pajateli:
"Vistap viisin, vennikene,
Kogemata kodukanad,
Tedrekesed teie toasta,
Kasulapsed kamberista;
Viisin neiud valge′ elle,
120Kudruskaelad kosjateele,
Peiuratsu radadelle."
T ü h i teist kord′ küsima:
"Kalevipoeg, kulla venda,
Kas sa võitsid kälimehe
Võidumängil vainiulla,
Torkasid teda teibana
Sõmerliiva seisemaie,
Sügavasse sõmerliiva?"
Kalevipoeg kostis vastu,
130Pilkamisi pajateli:
"Küllap võitsin kälimehe
Võidumängil vainiulla,
Torkasin teda teibana,
Kust, kui kontisid ei murdnud,
Süüd ei mulle sündinegu!"
T ü h i jälle küsimaie,
Pikemalta pärimaie:
"Kalevipoeg, kulla venda,
Kas sa koogiküpsetaja
140Vanaeide vangistasid,
Lukutasid hiirelõksul
Leivakasti lebamaie?"
Kalevite poega kostis,
Pilkamisi pajateli:
"Vistap panin, vennikene,
Koogikese küpsetaja
Vanaeide vangikirstu,
Lukutasin hiirelõksu
Leivakastie lebama,
150Ummuksesse undamaie,
Kus, kui kirp ei äratanud,
Memmekene praegu magab."
T ü h i-taati küsimaie,
Asja otsust ajamaie:
"Kalevipoeg, kulla venda,
Kas ehk võtsid mõõga varnast,
Salamahti sõjasaha,
Riisusid S a r v i k u raua?"
Kalev mõistis, kostis vastu,
160Pilkamisi pajateli:
"Vistap võtsin, vennikene,
Võtsin mõõgakese varnast,
Sõjariista sängiseinast,
Riisusin Sarviku raua.
Varn ei kanna vaenuriista,
Sängisein ei sõjasahka!
Mõõk on loodud mehe oma,
Mees ei maksa mõõga väeta
Ega mõõkagi meheta."
170T ü h i jälle küsimaie,
Pikemalta pärimaie:
"Kalevipoeg, kulla venda,
Kas võtsid kälime′e kübara,
Käppasid ka soovikaabu
Sängi tagant seina pealta?"
Kalevite poega kostis,
Pilkamisi pajateli:
"Küllap võtsin, vennikene,
Võtsin kälime′ e kübara,
180Käppasin ehk soovikaabu
Sängi tagant seina pealta.
Ei seda kaapu enam kanta
Põrguliste poege peassa:
Ju see kaapu kõrbenudki,
Soovikübar söeks põlenud,
Tuisanud juba tuhaksi."
T ü h i-taati küsimaie,
Pikemalta pärimaie:
"Kalevipoeg, kulla venda,
190Kas sa käisid kullakambris
Vana vara võttemassa,
Taalerida tabamassa,
Puduraha puistamassa,
Vana vaske varastamas?"
Kalevite poega kostis,
Pilkamisi pajateli:
"Küllap käisin, vennikene,
Kogemata kullakambris
Vana vara vaatamassa,
200Taalerida tabamassa,
Kullariismeid korjamassa;
Ei ma puutund puduraha,
Ei ma hävitand hõbedat
Ega vaske varastanud.
Võtsin kotitäied kulda,
Paari tündrit taalerida.
Koristasin väikse koorma,
Kirstust kümne hobu võrra,
Kahekümne kabu osa;
210Võtsin koorma vana vara,
Kuue vaka võrra kulda."
T ü h i jälle küsimaie,
Asja otsust ajamaie:
"Kalevipoeg, kulla venda,
Kas sa võtsid nõiavitsa,
Vargsi sillavalmistaja?"
Kalevite poega kostis,
Pilkamisi pajateli:
"Vistap võttis, vennikene,
220Nõiavitsa neiukene,
Sõstrasilm sillategija.
Võim ei lähe vitsa võtma,
Ramm ei raagu varastama."
T ü h i-taati küsimaie,
Pikemalta pärimaie:
"Kalevipoeg, kulla venda,
Kas sa kanadelle kurja,
Masajalgadelle mõnda
Kahjulikku kasvatanud,
230Süüdelikku sünnitanud?"
Kalev mõistis, kostis vastu,
Pilkamisi pajateli:
"Vistap vastan, vennikene,
Kõnelen ehk teisel korral,
Mis ma kambris kanadelle,
Masajalgel mängidessa
Öösel õnneks olen annud,
Salamahti sobitanud."
T ü h i viimaks küsimaie,
240Asjalugu ajamaie:
"Kalevipoeg, kulla venda,
Kas sa tahad teisel korral
Tüli tulla talitama?"
Kalev mõistis, kostis vastu
Pilkamisi pajatelles:
"Kes võib teada, vennikene,
Kuidas lugu veel lähekse,
Kuidas tuuli tuiskanekse.
Kui mul puudub kopikaida,
250Ehk siis tulen teisel korral
Kullakambrit koristama,
Taalrikirstu tühjendama,
Talitan ehk vanad tülid
Ühes uute võlgadega."
Siisap tormas T ü h j a-taati
Seitsmekümne selli seltsis
Kodu poole punumaie,
Kui oleks taskus tulekübe,
Parmu püksis pakitamas.
260Kui ma kiuste piigateelta,
Neiu noorte radadelta
Kalevite sammud käänan
Teise talu tallermaale,
Teise põllu peenardelle,
Teise raatmaa radadelle,
Siis pean andeks palumaie:
Tükk on jutust läinud tuulde,
Teine vete veeretatud.
Päevakese viimne paiste
270Punateli puielatvu
Kullakarva läikimaie,
Enne kui ta eha rüppe
Küünlakese kustuteli.
Kalevite kangel pojal
Täna palju talitusi,
Palju meelepahandusi
Juba mitmel puhul olnud,
Sellepärast koorem selga
Mehel rohkem muljunudki,
280Pihasooni pigistanud.
Videvikul viskas koorma,
Lauad maha lagedalle,
Kullakotid künka äärde,
Istus maha muru peale
Pisukesti puhkamaie,
Võttis leiba, kastis keelta
Kurnand keha karastuseks.
Sängikese seadmisega
Väsind mees ei aega viitnud,
290Heitis maha muru peale,
Padjaks kivi pea alla;
Tahtis puhu puhkaneda,
Seljasooni sirutada,
Püüdis mõtterasket peada
Kastevilus kergendada.
Sõnumid, mis täna saanud,
Kuulutused olid kurjad:
Alevipoja avaldused
Tunnistanud lugu tõeksi,
300Kuidas tema nõiakütkes,
Sortsilase sidemetes
Seitse nädalat suikunud,
Mäletamata maganud.
Seni oli raske sõda,
Vereahne vaenuvanker
V i r u s viletsusevaeva,
A l u t a g a hädaohtu,
Surma rasket sünnitanud.
Kuus oli kurbi kuulutusi,
310Seitse viletsaid sõnumeid,
Mis nüüd mehel mõtteida
Murul raskelt muljusivad;
Võind ei uni vangistelles
Tükil ajal silmatera
Vaiba alla varjutada.
Viimaks võitis ööde vilu,
Karastava kastekülma
Magamisel mehe mõtted.
Veel ei olnud väsimusel
320Kaua Kalevite poega
Selga murul sirutanud,
Kui ju külge kastes märga
Puusadesse puutunekse.
Juba niude niisutaja
Kõrgemalle kasvanekse,
Kippus kaela kastemaie,
Pea külge puutumaie,
Ega osand esiotsa
Raske une rammestusel
330Magaja sest märku saada,
Kas see küljekastemine
Unenäo või tõe tegu.
Seda teavad seletada,
Targemini tähendada,
Kes on asja ise katsund:
Kuidas uinu alustusel
Unenäo ilmutused
Tõekirja tumendavad;
Sügavama une sülest
340Öösel hõlpsam ärkamine
Kui sest esimesest unest.
Kalevite kange poega,
Mees ei mõistnud sooja märga,
Kurakülje kastijada
Mitte meelel mõistatada,
Unepaelust pääseneda.
Juba laiad lainekesed
Hädaohtu ähvardelles
Kippusivad meesta katma,
350Sest et sooja märja sooned
Kõrgemalle kasvanesid.
Õnneks pääses unepaelust
Mehepoega märkamaie,
Enne veel kui vetevood
Teda läinud lämmatama.
Unekammitsasta kistes,
Silmasida selitelles
Hakkas tema ümberkaudu
Võõralikku vaatamaie:
360Kustap läte lagedalle
Suure oja sünnitanud?
Silmasihil nägi sõber
Veesilmuse värava,
Kust see läte kukkudessa
Sooja oja sünnitanud.
Üks neist nõianeitsikestest,
Tuuletuuslari tütardest,
Oli künkal kükitelles
Sooja märga sünnitanud,
370Miska murul magajada
Hullult püüdis uputada.
Kalevite kange poega
Ajab keha istukille,
Võõritsilmi vaatamaie,
Kust see oja kasvanekse,
Soe allik sündinekse.
Nõianeitsi nalja nähes
Kange meesi mõtlemaie:
Kui ma lätte kiilutaksin,
380Soonekesed sõlmitaksin,
Väravada vangistaksin!
Õnnelikul juhtumisel
Puutus kivist peapadi
Kangel mehel käe alla.
Sõrmil kivi sasidessa
Sihtis silmapilgukese,
Viskas kivi vihisedes
Sihti mööda sõudemaie.
Kuhu kivi kukkunekse?
390Kivi kukkus õnnekohta,
Sõlmeks ette silmukselle,
Et ei vesiväravasta
Lained pääsend lagedalle.
Nõiataadi tütar noori
Kibedusest kiljatama,
Hädas appi hüüdemaie:
"Tulge, targad taadikesed,
Arstid, tulge aitamaie!"
Aga ei siin arstiabi
400Ega tuuslarite tarkus
Võinud viga vähendada.
Pikalisel piinatusel
Pidi neitsi närtsimaie.
Siiski ojasünnitaja,
Vangistatud vesivärav
Praegu asja avaldelles
Mälestusemärki annab.
Mustast kivi tagant mulgust
Siginevad vetesooned,
410Raudaoja sünnitajad,
Kuhu Kalev kivi kiiluks
Visand vesiväravasse.
Kalevite kallis poega,
Kui sai oja kiilutanud,
Siruteli väsind selga
Künka äärde kuivikulle,
Heitis uuest′ undamaie,
Kus ei enam kiusajaida
Rahu tulnud rikkumaie.
420Kui ta keha karastelles
Viibind juba valge′ eni,
Kirgas Looja kukekene,
Kõõruteli koidukana
Väsind meesta virgumaie.
Unepaelust pääsedessa
Võttis leiba vennikene
Keharammu karastuseks;
Siisap koormat seadidessa
Ladus virna laualasu,
430Viskas peale varanduse,
Kaugelt toodud kullakotid,
Taalerite taskukesed,
Tõstis koorma kukla peale,
Õnnesaagi õlgadelle,
Hakkas koju kõndimaie,
Sammusida sirutama.
Ega kodu enam kaugel,
Talu enam metsa taga,
Pesapaik ei linnul peidus.
440Tuul ju toonud tervisida,
Õhud õnnesoovitusi
Lesetalu lepikusta,
Kus ei peremeesta kodu.
Võõras võis ehk väravassa
Üksisilmi ootaneda.
Seitsme penikoorma sammud
Kadusivad kiireil kannul,
Veeresivad varba alla.
Polnud mehel pikemalta
450Kusagil ei kinnitusta
Ega sammul sidemeida.
Kui ta talu tänavasse,
Veeres vainu väravasse,
Õnnelikult alla õue:
Mis seal sammu sidudessa
Käiki hakkas kinnitama,
Virgul aega viitemaie?
Kaugelt tulnud külaline,
Võõras meesi astus vastu.
460Tereteli lakki tõstes,
Seadis sõnad sõudemaie,
Jutu kohe joone peale:
"Kustap, Kalevite poega,
Kustap ostsid lauakoorma,
Lunastasid linnalauad?
Kus need tüved kasvanesid,
Ladvad laial′ lahutasid?
Teha võiks neist tornisida,
Kantsisida kasvatada,
470Varjupaika valmistada,
Kindlust sõja kimbutusel."
K a l e v i p o e g mõistis kohe,
Kostis vastu kavalasti:
"Kus need kasvud enne kasvand,
Võsukesed enne venind,
Idud enne idanenud,
Seemneivad enne seisnud,
Sinna sigis suuri salu,
Paisus paksu metsakene,
480Kasvas kena kuusemetsa,
Tõusis tugev tammemetsa,
Mitme kohta männimetsa.
Kirves raius kõrge metsa,
Tapper tabas tammemetsa,
Müras maha männimetsa,
Kaoteli kuusemetsa;
Saagi saagis vooge sõudel,
Lõhkus palgid laudadeksi,
Kiskus paksud kildudeksi,
490Sealtap leidsin linnalauad,
Kandsin koju koormakese.
Torni neist ei tehtanegi,
Tornid tehakse teraksest;
Kantsi neist ei kasvatata,
Kantsid tehakse kividest."
Külaline kostemaie:
"Luba mulle, kulla venda,
Luba laudu laenuseksi,
Kui ei kaubal taha müüa,
500Hinna eesta anda häida!
Mina meister linnalooja,
Kindla koha kasvataja,
Tugeva torni tegija.
Käisin kaugel kõndimassa,
Läbi ilma luusimassa,
Käisin kolmes kuningriigis,
Nelja neitsi nurmedella,
Viie võõra väljadella.
Tulin hilja T a a r a mäelta,
510Pika ilu pidudelta,
Kuhu Kalevite poega
Pikisilmi oodatie."
Pikemalta pajatelles,
Viisakasti juttu vestes
Tutvunesid mehed targad,
Sõbrustasid sellikesed.
Kalevite poega kuulis,
Kuidas õnnelikul korral,
Jumalate juhatusel
520Ilmakuulus linnalooja,
Kindla koha kasvataja,
Tugeva torni tegija
O l e v i p o e g, hoonetarka,
Teda tulnud teretama,
Võõrsil venda vaatamaie.
Saivad mehed sõbrustanud,
Siisap kaupa sobitama,
Kindlamasti kinnitama,
Et ei hiljem tõuseks tüli,
530Vaenulikke vaheasju.
O l e v i p o e g, hoonetarka,
Tõotanud linna teha,
Ilusasti ehitada,
Kindlaks kohaks kasvatada,
Varjupaigaks valmistada.
Kalev pidi kive kandma,
Lisaks tooma laudasida,
Parajaida palkisida,
Tugevaida tammesida,
Mõnusamaid mändisida,
540Kõrgemaida kuuskesida
Linna tuluks laanest tooma,
Pealegi veel maksma palka,
Töövaeva taalerilla,
Kullal kätte tasumaie,
Pudutööda penningilla,
Teista hõbelutikailla.
Kui siis Olev õnne pärast
Kolme päeva pidand paastu
Ilma eineivakesta,
550U k u kivil ohverdanud,
Koidupiirdel kummardanud,
Ehavalgel abivaimud
Targa tööle toimetanud,
Siis ta pani laastukesed
Kahte kohta hunnikusse,
Andis algamise andeid
Juhtivaile jumalaile,
Taevalistest tarkadelle,
Et nad sipelgate sugust
560Tunnistähte ilmsi tooksid:
Kuhu paika elukohad,
Kuhu lojustele laudad
Sündsamalt võiks seadineda,
Õnnelikult ehitada.
Olevipoeg, hoonetarka,
Laastuleiu juhatusel
Hakkas linna alustama,
Kindlat kohta rajatama,
Palke alla panemaie,
570Kivisida kohendama,
Nurkasida nöörimaie,
Tugesida toimetama,
Sambaid püsti seadimaie.
Mõistke, mõistke, mehed noored,
Teatage, naised targad,
Arvake, poisid avarad,
Mis seal müüri tehtanekse,
Seinasida säetakse
V i r u kuuskede vilulla,
580L ä ä n e leppade vahella,
H a r j u haabade keskella!
Sinna loodi lustilinna,
Kasvatati kindlat kohta,
Kaevati kivikelderid
Varjupaigaks vanadelle,
Tehti kenad elutoad,
Kallid kaubakamberid,
Vikitie viisilisti,
Tasutie targalisti.
590Viis oli kirvest vikkimassa,
Sada saagi saagimassa,
Tuhat tapperit tasumas.
Kalev kandis koormakaupa
Linna tarbeks laudasida
Pikal teel P e i p s i tagant,
Kandis kokku tarbepuida,
Tüvikuida tuhandeida
Vana T a a r a tammikusta,
Kandis kive kaugemalta,
600Merekaldalt kaljusida,
Munakive murumaalta,
Murdis paasi maapõhjast.
Jättageme sellikesed
Uhket linna ehitama,
Varjupaika valmistama,
Kust saab koda kuningalle,
Peavarju vanemalle,
Kustap Kalev kange käega
Valda suurta valitsema,
610Targalisti toimetama,
Sõjakära sulgemaie,
Vaenuviha vaigistama,
Rahva õnne õilmestama,
Kasupõlve kasvatama!
Veeretagem lauluvärtnad,
Kuldalõnga korrutused,
Hõbeheide keerutused
Teisel joonel jooksemaie!
Läki neitsi nurmedelle,
620Käharpeade koppelisse
Lugusida luurimaie,
Saladusi silmamaie!
Põrgust toodud piigakesed,
Kenad neiud kolmekesi,
Annud Kalevite poega
Alevite varju alla,
Kalli sõbra kaitsuselle,
Kui ta kurba lugu kuulnud,
Magamise pikkust mõistnud,
630Mis tal aega viivitanud.
K a l e v i p o e g pajateli:
"Võta, armas vennikene,
Kodukanad kasvamaie!
Pane pardid pesadelle
Mehepoegi meelitama:
Küll ehk juhtub kosilane
Koidu eella teile käima,
V i r u poissi võttemaie,
H a r j u poissi ahvatama,
640L ä ä n e poissi lunastama!"
Alevite armas poega
Nagu kukekene korvis
Kosis kohe kolmandama
Neitsi noore enda naiseks,
Kes kui hernekaunakene,
Oakene õitses õuel.
S u l e v i p o e g, sugulane,
Valitses vanema piiga
Õhtuõnneks enesele.
650Kolmas õde, keskemine,
Põrgupiiga peenikene,
Kes ei leidnud armukaissu,
Pidi lesena leinama.
Kui siis seltsissa sõsarad,
Isekeskis imelapsed
Kolmekesi kõndimaie
Tammiku vahel tulevad,
Sarapuumetsa sammuvad,
Teineteiselta küsima,
660Noorik noorikulta nõudma:
"Kuidas, sõsar, sinu elu
Armukaisu hellituses?"
Küsimisel′ kostetie:
"Ilus, sõsar, minu elu,
Kena armukese kaisus!
Haigelt õhtul heidetakse,
Tervelt tõustakse ülesse;
Haigus langes alla sängi,
Tõbi põhku puistatie.
670Ilus, sõsar, minu elu,
Kuldasängis suikumine,
Kuldapadjus puhkamine!
Kuldaroog mul kaussidessa,
Kuldajook mul kannudessa,
Kuldakäik mul põrmandalla!"
Teine õde tunnistama,
Sõsar nõnda sõnaldama:
"Ilus, sõsar, minu elu,
Kena armukese kaisus!
680Siidilla mind viidi sängi,
Siidil tõusen sängistagi,
Siidil sängi seademine,
Siidil padja panemine!
Ilus, sõsar, minu elu,
Kena minu käekäiki:
Kullaksi mind kutsutakse,
Hõbedaks mind hõigatakse!
Laulaksin küll laiemalta,
Meelest läinud mitu lugu,
690Keelest mitu kaotasin.
Peast läks mitu pillikesta,
Käest mitu kandlelugu."
Kolmas sõsar pisarkulmul
Saand ei sõna sahkamaie.
Nutupillil kõndis neidu
Teiste järel tammikusta.
Kes see kurbust kustutama,
Leina tuleb lepitama?
A l u t a g a elas tarka,
700Laialt teatud tuuletarka,
Kellelt rahvas karjakaupa
Tarkust käisid tabamassa,
Ohus abi otsimassa.
See′ p see neitsikese nuttu,
Leina tahtis lõpetada.
T u u s l a r oli toa teinud,
Elumaja ehitanud
Keset laia lagendikku.
Targa tare tammest tehtud,
710Nurgakivid põhja kiirust
Nõialaual looditatud,
Soome soolal sortsitatud.
Nõgimustad nõianöörid
Tegid nurgad nurgeliseks,
Tegid viilud vikeliseks,
Painutasid seinapalgid
Parajasti paarimaie.
Pedajast on aluspakud,
Kuusetüvest küüruspakud,
720Uksepiidad pihlakasta,
Lävelauad Lääne lepast,
Lävepakud paaksapuusta,
Parred sirgesta pärnasta,
Vihtelauad vahterasta,
Toalagi toomingasta,
Sarapuusta on sarikad,
Kadakasta katusridvad,
Kirjust kasest katuslauad,
Olvipennid õunapuusta,
730Teised pennid peenest puusta,
Kuusmanist kukepennid,
Talapuud olid jalakasta,
Toapõrmand põlvesavist,
Kaetisrohu raagudesta
Sammudega sõtkutatud,
Tuulest tükkie valatud.
Põhjast tulid pobisejad,
Läänemetsast lausunaised,
Tuulissaarest tuuseldajad,
740Soomesta soolapuhujad.
T u u s l a r ise, tuuletarka,
Kui ta kaugel kõndinekse,
Laialt ümber luusinekse,
Nägi imeneitsikesi,
Kes kui kanad kõrgel õrrel
Kalevite lauakoormal,
Kullakoormal istusivad,
Laululusti kõõrutasid.
Varju alta vahtidessa,
750Salamahti silmatessa
Nägi, kuidas imelapsi
Hiljem anti Aleville
Kasvandikuks kasvamaie;
Nägi kena neidusida,
Imelapsi isekeskis
Naljatelles nurmedella
Päevapaistel mängimassa,
Noorel lustil lõõritamas;
Nägi kena neidusida,
760Imelapsi isekeskis
Õhtu ilul vainiulla
Kergeid jalgu kergitamas,
Kiigesõudel kiljatelles
Õnnelugu hõiskamassa;
Nägi kena neidusida
Kuude valgel kolmekesi
Unekaisus uinumassa,
Siidisängil suikumassa;
Nägi kena neidusida,
770Imelapsi isekeskis
Kaste piirdel koidu ajal
Punapalgeid pesemassa,
Siidihiukseid silitelles
Kuldakammil kammimassa. -
Ei olnud julgust juurde minna
Ega südant sülle võtta.
Katsus aga kiustekaupa
Piigasida kinni püüda,
Luusis sala nende jälil
780Ööd ja päevad ühtepuhku.
Kui nüüd kahel kosilased,
Kanged peiud olid käinud,
Istus õhtuhämarusel
Leskipäine piigakene,
Istus üksi ukse eessa,
Vaatas kuuvalgusella
Leinakuube lepikusta,
Kurbuskuube kaasikusta!
Vaatas närtsind lehekesi
790Kuldseid kuubi kudumassa,
Miska suve sammudelle
Sügisesta sõelutakse.
Kui nüüd kullad kahekesi
Kaasa seltsis läksid koju,
Igal kullal kuldakaissu,
Igal armsal armukene:
Polnud keskemisel piigal
Kuldakaasat kaitsemassa,
Armukest ei haudumassa.
800Kuhu pidi kanakene,
Parti üksik parve ääres
Pea õhtulla panema:
Kivi juurde, kännu juurde,
Kalju külma kaisutusse,
Pae pessa, pedaka juurde,
Lepa sirge′e süleje,
Kase kalli kaendelaie,
Haava halli hõlma alla,
Kadaka kasuka varju,
810Soesaba sõba alla?
Kellel′ kurtma kurvad meeled,
Kellel′ haiged haletsema,
Kellel′ vihad veeretama,
Muretujud tunnistama?
T u u s l a r mõtles, tuuletarka:
"Õnnetund on mulle tulnud,
Armu mulle osaks antud!"
Kargas paksust põõsastikust
Kui see kulli kanadelle,
820Võttis neiu varga volil,
Kulliküüsil käte peale,
Sulges kinni piiga suuda,
Et ei vaene kiljatama,
Appi saand ei hüüdemaie.
T u u s l a r tõttas kodu poole,
Tahtis saaki varju taha,
Lapse viia luku taha,
Püüda seal siis piigakesta
Mesikeelil meelitada,
830Lahkelikult lepitada,
Armupalveil ahvatada.
Kui nüüd kanged kälimehed
Noorikute nuttemisest,
Sõstrasilma pisaratest
Sündind asja aru saanud,
Kuidas kana kulliküüsil
Viidud võõra välja peale,
Hani teise allikalle,
Parti teise parve äärde,
840Luike teiste lainetelle,
Saatsid kohe sõbrakese,
Kergel jalal kannupoisi
Neitsi jälgi otsimaie.
Linnukeelte läkitusel
Oli kolmandamal õhtul
Noormees neitsi jälgi näinud.
Käänas kiirest′ kodu poole
Sõpradelle sõnaldama.
S u l e v i p o e g sõitis sõtta,
850A l e v i p o e g vaenuteele,
Sõbrad surmaradadelle;
Läksid piigat päästemaie,
Kana kullilt kiskumaie,
Varga küüsist vallandama.
Hädaohu ähvardusel
Tegi tuuslar, tuuletarka,
Sortsisõna sünnitusel
Laia järve lainetama
Varjuks vaenulaste vastu.
860Imelugu ilmumine
Tegi tüli tulijaile:
Lootsikut ei olnud leida,
Paati saada parajada,
Miska üle lainte minna.
A l e v i p o e g, armas venda,
Kes see kodunt õnnekorral
Võtnud nõiavitsakese
Sõjateele saatijaksi,
Vitsakesta vibutama,
870Ise soovil pajatama:
"Silda ette sünnitele,
Silda ette sammujalle!"
Silmapilgul sündis silda
Penikoorma pikkusella.
Sõitsid mehed üle silla,
Kanged mehed kahekesi
Tuisates tuuslari talusse;
Lõhkusivad ukselukud,
Puistasid piidad puruksi,
880Tapsivad siis tuuletarga,
Päästsid vangist piigakese,
Panid tuuslari talule
Tulekuke katukselle.
Tuhaksi läinud talusta
Jäänd ei enam jälgesida
Muud kui rajakivi müürid.
Kes see juhtub õnnekorral
Suveööl seal astumaie,
Küll see kuuleb kaebamisi,
890Leinamise lugusida,
Miska tuuslar, tuuletarka,
Hävituse äpardusta,
Kena koja kadumista
Ohkab tuulehoogudelle.
O l e v i p o e g, hoonetarka,
Kosind hiljem kolmandama
Kasvandiku kodukanaks,
Keda kanged kälimehed
Varga volist olid päästnud.
900Nõnda olid neitsid noored,
Põrgust pääsend piigakesed
Hüva õnne juhatusel,
Sugulaste soovitusel
Kange meeste kaasaks saanud;
Olid poegi rohkel rüpel,
Sugu kuulsat sünnitanud:
Kellest vanapõlve kõned
Sada sala sahkanevad,
Tuhat tükki tunnistavad.

Source Colophon

Friedrich Reinhold Kreutzwald, Kalevipoeg (Viisteistkümnes Lugu), first edition 1857. Digital text from Project Gutenberg eBook #25062. Public domain.

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