"Beauty rode along the river, Song across the open field"

These twenty-nine narrative ballads are drawn from Section I of M.J. Eisen's Eesti rahwalaulud (Estonian Folk Songs, 1919), a compilation of traditional regilaul — the ancient alliterative-parallelistic oral poetry shared by Estonians and Finns. The songs collected here are dramatic stories: a maiden defends her honour with a knife, a sister searches for her drowned brother by asking the sun, moon, and stars, a serf is carried to heaven by angels, a wife is sent to her death by a treacherous husband, a young man returns from seven years of war unrecognized by all but his wife.

These songs complement the mythological, family, seasonal, and death songs from the Eisen collection already in the archive. The regilaul meter — trochaic octosyllabic verse with alliteration and parallelism — is preserved in line breaks though not in strict metre, following the gospel register of modern, direct English.

Song of Beauty

Ilulaul

Beauty rode along the river,
Song across the open field,
Horse well-tended at the fore,
Oaken sleigh behind,
Reed-woman in the sleigh,
Words in a sieve upon her lap,
Songs on a cord about her neck.

Who was seen, who was heard,
Who came forth to meet her,
Came to meet her, chanced upon her?
She met a throng of young men,
A company of cap-wearers.
They began to question her,

Question her, inquire of her:
"Where do you go, dear Beauty,
Where do you hasten, dear Song?
Will you, Beauty, come to us,
Will you, Dance, take us?"

Beauty spoke with her tongue,
Beauty wisely answered:
"I will not go, Beauty, to you,
Nor will I, Dance, take you;
I do not want the company of men,
Nor lean toward the men's assembly,
Do not desire the men's beauty,
Do not want the men's dance.
Men have wooden words,
Linden-bark little songs.
You go to plow the meadow,
Lean to carry the plow,
There you forget beauty,
Song slips from your mind."

Beauty rode along the river,
Song across the open field,
Horse well-tended at the fore,
Oaken sleigh behind,
Reed-woman in the sleigh,
Words in a sieve upon her lap,
Songs on a cord about her neck.

Who was seen, who was heard,
Who came forth to meet her,
Came to meet her, chanced upon her?
She met a throng of women,
Met a flock of headcloth-wearers.
They began to question her,
Question her, inquire of her:
"Where do you go, dear Beauty,
Where do you hasten, dear Song?
Will you, Beauty, come to us,
Will you, Dance, take us?"

Beauty spoke with her tongue,
Beauty wisely answered:
"I will not go, Beauty, to you,
Nor will I, Dance, take you;
I do not want the company of women,
Nor lean toward the women's assembly,
Do not want to be near the headcloth-wearers,
Do not desire the women's beauty,
Do not want the women's dance,
Do not care for the women's leaping;
The women's joy went to Narva-land,
The women's mirth went to Luiga-land,
Into the beautiful apple trees,
Into the red cherry bushes;
You forget beauty,
Song slips from your mind:

You have little children,
You have frail chicks,
You go to rock the babe,
To lull the darling to sleep,
You cannot sing your songs,
You cannot strike up beauty.
Therefore you forget beauty,
Song slips from your mind."

Beauty rode along the river,
Song across the open field,
Horse well-tended at the fore,
Oaken sleigh behind,
Reed-woman in the sleigh,
Words in a sieve upon her lap,
Songs on a cord about her neck.

Who was seen, who was heard,
Who came forth to meet her,
Came to meet her, chanced upon her?
She met a throng of maidens,
A company of garland-wearers.
They began to question her,

Question her, inquire of her:
"Where do you go, dear Beauty,
Where do you hasten, dear Song?
Will you, Beauty, come to us,
Will you, Dance, take us?"

Beauty spoke with her tongue,
Beauty wisely answered:
"Surely I, Beauty, will go to you,
Surely I, Dance, will take you;
I go gladly to the maidens' company,
I lean toward the maidens' assembly,
I want the maidens' dance,
I care for the maidens' leaping,
I desire their beauty-keeping.
You do not forget beauty,
Song does not slip from your mind:
For the maiden, beauty runs ahead,
Joy laughs along behind,
It turns in the middle,
It pours itself between —
Therefore you do not forget beauty,
Song does not slip from your mind.
As the moon is set in writing,
The sun upon its nest's edge,
So are maidens set in beauty,
Children set amidst their songs."

Beauty came to the maidens' company,
Leaned toward the maidens' assembly,
Came at their desiring,
Leaned at their delight.

Fetching Water

Vee toomine

Gentle Salme, little maiden,
Gentle Salme, greatly wise,
Quick of step beyond all measure:
"Go, fetch water from the sea,
In a sieve upon the washstand,
In a ladle held between both hands,
Dripping into a tin bucket,
Bring it for the father-in-law to wash his head!"

The father-in-law took the water in anger,
Flung the water at her eyes,
Poured the water on her neck:
"Why did you tarry so long at the well?"

"I stayed outside to watch
How the fish were spawning,
How the pike were giving cover,
How the whitefish were laying flat,
How the burbot were casting lines,
How the mother-fish were spawning!"

"Gentle Salme, little maiden,
Gentle Salme, greatly wise,
Quick of step beyond all measure;
Go, fetch water from the sea,
In a sieve upon the washstand,
In a ladle held between both hands,
Dripping into a tin bucket,
Bring it for the mother-in-law to wash her head!"

The mother-in-law took the water in anger,
Flung the water at her eyes,
Poured the water on her neck:
"Why did you tarry so long at the well?"

"I stayed outside to watch
How the fish were spawning,
How the pike were giving cover,
How the whitefish were laying flat,
How the burbot were casting lines,
How the mother-fish were spawning!"

Gentle Salme, little maiden,
Gentle Salme, greatly wise,
Quick of step beyond all measure:
"Go, fetch water from the sea,
In a sieve upon the washstand,
In a ladle held between both hands,
Dripping into a tin bucket,
Bring it for the bridegroom to wash his head!"

The bridegroom took the water kindly,
Did not fling the water at her eyes,
Nor pour it on her neck.

"What did you see, dear one, at the well?"

"I stayed outside to watch
How the fish were spawning,
How the pike were giving cover,
How the whitefish were laying flat,
How the burbot were casting lines,
How the mother-fish were spawning!"

Lemming

What shall I take to sing of,
Shall I take old Kalev
Or take the new Utreg
Or take the young Lemming?

Old is old Kalev,
New is the new Utreg,
Young is the young Lemming.

Lemming's father fell ill,
Lemming's mother fell ill
For seven warm summers,
Eight fair springs,
Ten cold winters too.
They did not believe the trouble real,
Did not believe the sickness true,
The groaning to be illness;
The beds began to rot,
The base-boards to grow mouldy,
Then they believed the trouble real,
And believed the sickness true,
The groaning to be illness.

"Lemming, Lemming, little boy,
Take the nets upon your hips,
Stone-straps on your breast,
Carry the nets to Viru's waters,
Bear them to Harju's spring.
Bring from there that certain fish
That makes the father well again,
And makes the mother well again."

Seeking the Comb

Harja otsimine

Roll on, roll on, little sun,
Roll, sun, along the waters,
Glide along the birch-top.
Roll on, sun, we grow weary,
Wane, sun, we waste away.
Weary grow the mighty men,
Tired grow the strong men,
Why do the daughters not tire?
What is there to tire of in emptiness,
To weary of in littleness,
To groan of from a blossom,
To break from an eggshell!

There is no time for the sun to roll,
The sun sits on the sea's edge,
Combing the servants' heads,
Combing the herders' heads,
Parting the maids' heads too,
A golden comb in hand,
A lacquered headboard.
The comb slipped into the sea,
The headboard into the waves.

Who will bring it from the sea,
The comb from the wide waves?
I went to Peter with a prayer,
To Andrew with a kind word:
"Dear Peter, holy servant,
Go, fetch the comb from the sea,
The headboard from the waves,
The golden comb from the shallows!"

Andrew had no time,
Peter had little time,
Paul had much time:
Peter was making benches,
Andrew was making base-boards,
Paul was making pillows on top.

I went myself, little Beauty,
Along the road, tiny one,
Along the ground, lowly one,
Along the grass, little rose,
Along the water, little one,
Along the shore, fair one,
To my bosom in the Mother River,
To my neck in the fish-sea.
What touched against my hip?
A sword touched against my hip.
What flashed at my waist?
A fish flashed at my waist.
What shimmered at my neck?
Water shimmered at my neck.
I took the sword in hand,
Brought the sword to the manor,

"Oh you foolish little child,
You cannot go into the sea on a whim,
Leap neck-deep into the river,
The sea is great and deep,
The river wide and open."
I placed it on the lord's table,
The second on the tankard's lid.
"Judge now, judge, manor lords,
Reckon, parish elders,
Whence this sword was taken,
This blade brought to its sheath?"

Then the manor lords could not judge,
Nor the parish elders reckon.
From the parish came a poor child,
And from the district a beggar too,
That one judged the sword aright:
"This sword was brought from the sea,
Cast from the sea-foam,
Assembled from the sea-froth,
From the shinbones of soldiers,
From the kneebones of young boys,
From the fishbones of fishermen,
From the teeth of men of Harju."

I went again into the sea,
To my shoulder-blades in the waves.
What clinked against my hem,
And what touched my knee?
A comb clinked against my hem,
A brush touched my knee.
With the comb I comb the servant's head,
I tend the herder's head,
I brush the heads of the beloved!

Seeking the Mast-Tree

Purjepuu otsimine

I call out to three forests,
Three forests stood side by side,
One was a golden spruce-forest,
The second a precious birch-forest,
The third a beautiful apple-forest.

"Listen, golden spruce-forest,
Can I get mast-timbers from you,
Mast-timbers, ship-planks?"

"You cannot get mast-timbers from me,
Mast-timbers, ship-planks.
From me you get only switch-sticks!"

"Listen, golden birch-forest,
Can I get mast-timbers from you,
Mast-timbers, ship-planks?"

"You cannot get mast-timbers from me,
Mast-timbers, ship-planks.
From me you get only wheel-spokes."

"Listen, beautiful apple-forest,
Can I get mast-timbers from you,
Mast-timbers, ship-planks?"

"Yes, from me you get mast-timbers,
Mast-timbers, ship-planks!"

Brother Lost

Vend kadunud

I had three little brothers,
Three like beans in a pod,
Two like peas in a shell.
I sent one to the pasture,
The second to the berry-field,
The third to the Mother River.

One came home from the pasture,
A herding-stick before him.
One came home from the berry-field,
A berry-basket in hand.
None came home from the Mother River.
I took the brooch from my breast,
The coin from about my neck:
"Seek, brooch, until you find him,
Fly, chain, until you break apart."

That brooch did not speak
Nor did that coin tell.

I went to search for my brother.
I searched the bean-field through,
The bean-field, the marsh-field.
I searched the churches to their end,
In Viru I passed five crosses,
In Kuru I passed six crosses,
I traversed the crosses of Harju,
Divided Jarva into four.

The horse drank from the Luri river,
Tasted from Mardi's spring,
Tested from Kau's wells.
What was in the Luri river?
Ale was in the Luri river.
What was in Mardi's spring?
Mead was in Mardi's spring.
What was in Kau's wells?
Small beer was in Kau's wells.

Then I walked a stretch of road,
A stretch of road, a patch of ground,
I searched the valleys, searched the hills,
Searched the hills unmeasured.

Who might come to meet me?
The sun came forth to meet me.
I greeted the sun:
"Greetings, sun, lord of Parnu,
You walk on high,
You look straight ahead,
You gaze in brightness.
Did you see my brother
Coming toward me,
Heading for the river,
Going toward the sea,
In a boat of swan-bone,
Beneath a wooden sail?"

The sun quickly answered:
"I did not see your brother,
I did not see, I did not hear!"

I walked another stretch of road,
A stretch of road, a patch of ground.
Who might come to meet me?
The moon came forth to meet me.

I greeted the moon:
"Greetings, moon, lord of Kura,
You walk on high,
You look straight ahead,
You gaze in brightness.
Did you see my brother
Coming toward me,
Heading for the river,
Going toward the sea,
In a boat of swan-bone,
Beneath a wooden sail?"

The moon heard and answered at once:
"I did not see your brother,
I did not see, I did not hear."

I walked another stretch of road,
A stretch of road, a patch of ground.
Who might come to meet me?
A star came, a full man.

I greeted the star:
"Greetings, star, full man,
You walk on high,
You look straight ahead,
You gaze in brightness.
Did you see my brother
Coming toward me,
Going toward the sea,
In a boat of swan-bone,
Beneath a wooden sail?"

"What did your brother look like?"
"He had a cap of spruce-bark,
A hat of birch-bark,
A grey cap of aspen-bark!
He had a boat of swan-bone,
An oar of grouse-foot,
A rudder of goose-feathers.
A coat below, a shirt below,
A homespun jacket in the middle."

The star, the full man, answered,
Spoke with a sorrowful face:
"Your brother went to try the fish,
To pull out the crayfish.
The water carried him, the shore covered him,
A deep grave has swallowed him,
The wave has ended the child.
His cap remained floating on the water,
His wreath remained on top of the water,
His hat upon the shore."

A day I wept for my brother's wreath,
A month I wept for my brother's coat,
A year for my brother's place,
A lifetime for my little brother!

Straight is the current in the sea,
Straighter was my little brother,
White is the foam in the sea,
Whiter was my little brother.
So did my brother's shadow shine
Like the sun in heaven.
So do my brother's wreaths gleam
Like the golden moon shining!

The Forced Kiss

Suisa

I went to the forest to fetch a broom,
A tin-broom from the path's edge,
A copper-broom from the field,
A silver-broom from the yard,
A golden-broom from the copse.

I came upon Sulev's hill,
Sulev's, Kalev's hill.
There stood Sulev's son,
Sulev's, Kalev's son,
He demanded a forced kiss,
A forced kiss, a spiteful touch.

I had a sharp knife,
A blue sword beneath my skirt,
By force I struck Sulev's son,
In spite I struck Kalev's son,
Through his beautiful body,
Through his red face,
Through his fine new coat,
Through his reddish hair.

Then I went weeping home.
Mother and father met me,
Both the old ones met me.
Mother asked tenderly,
Father with wise words:
"Why do you weep, young daughter?"

I understood and answered:
"Why should I not weep, dear mother,
Why should I not weep, dear father:
I went to the forest to fetch a broom,
A tin-broom from the path's edge,
A copper-broom from the field,
A silver-broom from the yard,
A golden-broom from the copse.
I came upon Sulev's hill,
Sulev's, Kalev's hill.
There stood Sulev's son,
Sulev's, Kalev's son,
He demanded a forced kiss,
A forced kiss, a spiteful touch.
By force I struck Sulev's son,
In spite I struck Kalev's son,
Through his beautiful body,
Through his red face,
Through his reddish hair!"

Mother answered in verse:
"Be well, little maiden,
For guarding your own honour,
For slaying the great dog!"

Jewelry Stolen

Ehted riisutud

I went to Piibe to wash my head,
To Piibe's long river,
Down to Piibe's springs;
I placed my beads upon the hay,
My golden chain upon the arch,
My ring upon the gravel,
My brooch upon the fine sand.
A pike came to fetch water,
A swallow came from above for water,
Took my beads from the hay,
My golden chain from the arch,
My ring from the gravel,
My brooch from the fine sand.
Then I went weeping home.

Mother and father met me,
Both the old ones met me:
"Why do you weep, young daughter?"

"Why do I weep, dear mother,
Or why do I weep, dear father?
I placed my beads upon the hay,
My golden chain upon the arch,
My ring upon the gravel,
My brooch upon the fine sand.
A pike came to fetch water,
A swallow came from above for water,
Took my beads from the hay,
My golden chain from the arch,
My ring from the gravel,
My brooch from the fine sand!"

"Do not weep, young daughter,
Let the merchant come to the village,
The shop-boy to the floor,
Then I'll buy beads the colour of hay,
A golden chain the colour of the arch,
A ring the colour of gravel,
A brooch the colour of fine sand!"

Geese Slaughtered

Haned tapetud

"Dear mother, little mother,
Others you gave other work,
Servants you gave heavy work,
Me you gave light work:
You gave me geese to tend,
Geese to tend, hens to guard,
Flat-footed ones to pacify,
Toe-footed ones to quiet."
I drove the geese to the water,
Turned the hens to the fallow,
The flat-footed to the alder-grove,
The toe-footed to the meadow.

A hawk came, a cruel bird,
Drove my geese from the water,
Turned the hens from the fallow,
The flat-footed from the alder-grove,
The toe-footed from the meadow.
I went home with a sorrowful heart,
Before the oven with a grieving heart.
Who came to ask the sad one?
Mother came to ask the sad one:
"Why do you weep, young daughter?"
"Why do I weep, dear mother?
A hawk came, a cruel bird,
Drove my geese from the water,
Turned the hens from the fallow,
The flat-footed from the alder-grove,
The toe-footed from the meadow."
"Be still, young daughter,
I will send the servants to search,
The bread-eaters to find them!"

"Dear mother, little mother,
A servant will not search for geese,
Bread-eaters will not find a bird!"
I went myself, the little one,
Along the ground, the lowly one,
I went to the manor's open field;
There were ten plowmen,
Nine harrowers,
I tried to ask the plowman,
To make the harrower speak.
The plowman would not speak,
The harrower would not make a sound.
I took the plowman's hat,
The harrower's good horse,
Then the plowman spoke,
The harrower made a sound:
"Go to our manor,
There your geese were slaughtered."
I went to that manor,
What was placed beneath me?
A stool was placed beneath me
Made from my own goose-bones;
A basin was set before me
From my own goose-feathers.
What was given me to eat?
My own goose-flesh.
What was given me to drink?
My own goose-blood!

Oxen Killed

Harjad murtud

I plowed out the lord's fields,
Cross and criss-cross Riga's fields,
Slantwise the Poltsamaa sprouts,
I let the oxen out for midday rest,
For midday rest beneath the grove.
A wolf came from the marsh,
Broad-paw from beneath the grove,

He killed the black ox,
He tore the piebald ox,
He ate both oxen.

I went home weeping,
Weeping, crying.
Who came to meet me?
Mother and father met me,
Both the old ones met me:
"Why do you weep, young son?"
"Why do I weep, dear mother,
Why do I weep, dear father?
A wolf came from the marsh,
Broad-paw from beneath the grove,
He killed the black ox,
He tore the piebald ox,
He ate both oxen."

"Do not weep, young son,
At home we have two cows,
A piebald cow, a black cow.
The piebald cow will bear a piebald ox,
The black cow will bear a black ox,
And if they have no horns,
We will set them plowing by the ears,
Pulling the plow by the hair,
Drawing the plow-beam by the coulter."

Horse Stolen

Hobune varastatud

I fed the stallion, I watered the stallion,
On the palm of my hand I kept the stallion,
Without my mother's knowing,
Without my father hearing.
The stallion grew full and strong.
I went to escort the lords,
Escorted the lords to Saaremaa,
The masters to Hiiumaa,
Half the lords to Poland.

Coming back from escorting the lords,
I found a tavern in the heath,
I went to look in the tavern:
What was being done in the tavern?
Ale and spirits being drunk,
Wheat-bread horns being eaten.
I bought one tankard, bought two,
Began to take a third,
To order a fourth:
I heard a dog barking,
I cracked my whip,
A thief came from the raspberry-bush,
A wicked man from the spruce-grove,
Took my good horse,
My ten-ruble hat,
My hundred-ruble saddle,
My thousand-ruble coat,
My silver-knobbed whip.

I went weeping home.
Mother met me, father met me,
Immediately asking:
"Why do you weep, young son?"
"Why should I not weep, dear mother,
Why should I not weep, dear father:
I fed the stallion, I watered the stallion,
I brought the stallion to full strength,
I escorted the lords to Poland,
The full lords to Turkey,
The great lords to Saaremaa,
I started to come home:
A thief came from the raspberry-bush,
A wicked man from the spruce-grove,
Took my good horse,
My ten-ruble hat,
My hundred-ruble saddle,
My thousand-ruble coat,
My silver-knobbed whip!"

Father heard and answered:
"Do not weep, young son,
At home you have three stallions,
One is your riding-stallion,
The second is your stable-stallion,
The third is your courting-stallion!"

Horse Lost

Hobune kadunud

I sat upon the beauty-hill,
Among the beauty-flowers,
Between the beauty-branches,
A beauty-spruce upon my knee,
An ancient birch in my bosom.
I let the herd beneath the grove.
What was lost from the herd?
First was lost my father's horse,
From the middle my mother's milk-cow,
From between my brother's foal.

I sent a servant to search,
A poor child to look.
The servant searched carelessly,
The poor child looked wildly.

"Little sisters, dear ones,
Give me the reins in hand,
Give me the halter too."
I went myself to search for the horse,
To listen for the golden-eared one,
To look for the copper-maned one.
"Did you see my horse?"

"What markings has your horse?"
"Linen-maned, broadly blazed,
His head set in a headband,
His broad mane in a halter,
His eyes in silken tassels,
His brows in golden cups,
His ears in tall rings,
His body in bright cloth,
His tail in a lord's thaler.
In the morning of squirrel's colour,
In daylight of sunrise colour,
At dawn of golden colour,
At dusk of twilight colour,
At midday of dragon colour."

"That one passed through our yard,
Through the maidens' lane,
Through the new streets.
A golden rope trailed behind,
A braided hobble on its foot,
It made havoc going,
More havoc coming.
It broke the shafts, it broke the traces,
It broke the fretted gate,
It spilled half the mead,
It ate our bin of rye,
The second bin of barley,
The third of summer wheat,
It drew off our barrel of ale,
It gathered up the cabbage leaves,
It stripped the turnip leaves,
It ate our dear cabbages.
The shafts broke in its yawning,
The halter spun its head.
The beaded horse pranced,
The stone lane rang.
Now it is behind our fence,
There it whinnies for hay,
There it calls for oats!"

I heard and answered:
"It does not whinny for hay,
Nor call for oats,
It whinnies for one to mount it,
It calls for one to leap upon it,
It whinnies for a master,
It calls for a merchant beneath it,
One to hold its reins,
One to tend its harness,
One to put on its halter!

Whinny, grey one, cry out, grey one,
Cry to Kalev's ears,
Is the fence, grey one,
Is the fence made by men
Or made by maidens?
Men's fence from the forest,
Boys' fence from the trees,
Girls' fence of tin,
Women's fence of studs."

The Daughter-in-Law

Minija

Mother sent her son courting;
Over marshes, over lands,
Over five rainbows,
Over six dawns' edges.

The son came weeping home,
Lamenting down to the yard.
He set the mittens on the table,
The shreds on the long pack,
The gloves upon the hat.

Who came to talk beside him,
To speak beside his mouth?

Mother came to talk beside him,
To speak beside his mouth:
"Why do you weep, young one,
Why do you shed tears?"
"Why should I not weep, dear mother?
I went courting,
To woo a maiden.
Oh my dear mother,
No wife will come to me,
You have too many daughters,
Too many demanding wages.
Cast the daughters into the water,
Carry the Annes to the spring,
The Kaies to the village well,
The Liisus to the flax-retting,
The Maris to the berry-bush.
Then a wife will come to me,
A wife for me, a daughter-in-law for you!"

The mother was foolish to believe,
And to obey her son's command.
She put the daughters in her apron,
Ran to the water's edge,
Flung Viiu into the water,
Kaie into the village well,
Anne down to the spring,
Liisu into the flax-retting,
Mari into the berry-bush.
Then she sent her son courting,
Over marshes, over lands,
Over five rainbows,
Over six dawns' edges.

The son came home,
The mother asked the son:
"Did a girl come for you,
Did a daughter-in-law come for me?"

The son understood and answered:
"Yes, a girl came for me,
And a daughter-in-law came for you!"

Then the daughter-in-law was brought to the house,
The son's wife to the floor,
Set to weave cloth,
To shuttle silver thread,
To twist golden thread,
To tend the white thread.

The son heard and spoke at once:
"My wife is tiny,
Small and thin,
Thin at the shoulder,
Weak at the arm.
If only her head were of pinewood,
Her arms of maplewood,
Her shoulders of applewood,
Then she would weave golden cloth,
Shuttle silver thread for you!"

The mother set her to weaving anyway:
The reed began to scold,
The loom-beam began to blame:
"In this smoke we will die,
In this heat we will burst,
In this steam we will suffocate!"

The mother remembered her daughters:
Could not the Annes still be here,
The Kaies leaping in the herd,
The Liisus making merry in the grove,
The Maris going berrying,
The other daughters doing work.

The mother went weeping to the river,
Grieving to the spring,
Worrying to the muddy water:
"Come, Viiu, come from the water,
Come, Kaie, from the herding-path,
Come, Anne, from the spring,
Come, Mari, from the berry-field,
Come, Liisu, from the flax-retting,
Come to weave the cloth,
To shuttle silver thread,
To twist golden thread,
To tend the white thread,
The cloth begs for weavers,
It cries gentle words too!"

The daughters understood, answered at once:
"We cannot, we cannot, dear mother,
We cannot rise, we cannot come,
You have at home a golden daughter-in-law,
A silver son's wife,
Let her weave golden cloth,
Shuttle silver thread for you,
Let her take the distaff to the pasture,
The warp-beam to the path's edge,
Where the herders are weaving,
The shepherds are shuttling,
The work-boys are making cord!"

Hans of Harju

Harju Hans

Hans was a short man from Harju,
With a tin scabbard, a mighty belt.
He bought a horse from Harju,
A golden whip from the king,
A saddle from the Saaremaa lord.

Then he went to ride the stallion,
To test the stallion's legs,
To try the steed's shins:
The stallion before him like a star,
He upon it like the sun,
The lord's boots on his feet,
The king's coat on his back,
A belt at his waist with Riga's cross,
A hat on his head with the church's script.
Where he goes, heaven gleams,
Where he walks, heaven trembles,
Where he rides the stallion,
There the marsh rides along,
Where he makes the stallion dance,
There the road dances too,
Where he makes the stallion play,
There the hill plays too,
Where he makes the stallion wheel,
There a church wheels round.
He rode along the bridge of Finland,
Along the hills of Courland.
The hills of Courland rumbled,
The bridge of Finland crackled back,
The base-logs thundered.

The maidens of Viru were watching,
The daughters of Turku were singing:
"If only that man were from our parish,
If only that fellow were from our flock,
The one who rides along the bridge,
Along the hills of Courland,
A stallion beneath him like a star,
He upon it like the sun,
A hat on his head with the church's script,
A belt at his waist with Riga's script.
We would stand all summer unfed,
A year without bread,
Winter without wanting grain!"

The Servant's Wages

Teenistuse palk

I served the master,
The master, the wise man,
The king, the famous man.
What was offered me as wages?
A sheep with two lambs;
I would not settle for that.

I served the master,
The master, the wise man,
The king, the famous man.
What was offered me as wages?
A pig with seven piglets;
I would not settle for that.

I served the master,
The master, the wise man,
The king, the famous man.
What was offered me as wages?
An old gelding, a shaft-puller;
I would not settle for that.

I served the master,
The master, the wise man,
The king, the famous man.
What was offered me as wages?
He gave nets, he gave boats;
I would not settle for that.

I served the master,
The master, the wise man,
The king, the famous man.
What was offered me as wages?
He gave seine-nets, he gave drag-nets;
I would not settle for that.

I served the master,
The master, the wise man,
The king, the famous man.
What was offered me as wages?
He gave rowboats, he gave sails;
I would not settle for that.

I served the master,
The master, the wise man,
The king, the famous man.
What was offered me as wages?
He gave Finland, he gave Saaremaa;
I would not settle for that.

I served the master,
The master, the wise man,
The king, the famous man.
What was offered me as wages?
He gave oars from Finland,
Rudders from the eagle's house;
I would not settle for that.

I served the master,
The master, the wise man,
The king, the famous man.
What was offered me as wages?
A church with its parish;
I would not settle for that.

I served the master,
The master, the wise man,
The king, the famous man.
What was offered me as wages?
Manors with their districts;
I would not settle for that.

I served the master,
The master, the wise man,
The king, the famous man.
What was offered me as wages?
Tallinn to Tartu's borders,
Great cities from Finland;
I would not settle for that.

I served the master,
The master, the wise man,
The king, the famous man.
What was offered me as wages?
The king and the kingdom;
I would not settle for that!

I served the master,
The master, the wise man,
The king, the famous man.
What was offered me as wages?
A young maiden, golden-haired,
With golden household goods.

Yes, I will settle for that,
That maiden is my own!

At the Smithy

Sepal

Anne was a dear little maiden,
A Polish boy's bride,
She went merrily out
To the stony field,
To scatter the stone-shards.

Broken the beads, broken the ornaments,
Broken the dear necklaces,
Broken the twisted chain,
The ruble-pieces rosy,
Broken the ring on her finger,
The other from the other hand.

Anne went to the smith of Courland:
"Smith of Courland, my dear one,
Take my rosary to mend,
My silver beads to straighten,
My cross-pendants to beautify,
Forge a twisted chain,
Ruble-pieces rosy!"

The smith heard and answered right away:
"I am not a bead-smith,
Nor am I a rosary-smith,
I am a plain iron-smith!"

Anne went to the smith of Viru:
"Smith of Viru, my brother,
Take my rosary to mend,
My silver beads to straighten,
My cross-pendants to beautify,
Forge a twisted chain,
Ruble-pieces rosy!"

The smith heard and answered right away:
"Little maiden, young one,
If you come to my son,
Then I will take the ornaments to mend,
Forge twisted chains,
Ruble-pieces rosy!"

Anne heard and answered right away:
"I will not come to you,
I will not come to your son,
A smith's wife is a bellows-skin,
Sooty are the hammerer's children,
The smith himself is blackened,
The smith's daughters are fire-brands.
The smith himself just whinnies,
The smith's wife just giggles!"

The Wonder-Worker

Imetegija

I went to my brother for land,
For fallow land, for idle land,
A small plot for turnips,
A bit of bed-space.
My brother stood to argue,
The tin-breast to quarrel:
"What does an apron do with yard-land,
A skirt-wearer with field-land,
A maiden with turnip-land,
A headcloth-woman with buckwheat-land!"

"My dear brother,
Give just a plowshare's width,
Share but an oxen-track's worth.
Where I will sow linseed,
Plant buckwheat,
Sow peas in front,
Scatter poppies alongside."

I got a scrap of empty land,
A patch of scrubby land,
A stake's worth of bare land,
Behind the pine-hill,
Beneath the dry spruce-grove.

That I plowed with my fingernails,
Harrowed with my toes,
There I sowed blue flax,
There I scattered red flax,
The blue grew tall, the red grew thick,
The red to knee-height.

I went to cut the blue flax.
I could not get a sickle from this land,
A sickle from this people.

I went to my brother with a plea:
"My dear brother,
Lend me the grey one,
The roan horse from beside your hand.
I will ride to the smith in Viru,
To the hammerer in Jarva,
To ask for golden shears,
For silver trimming-irons,
Copper blades on the handle,
Tips dipped in silver,
With which to trim the poppies,
To tend the buckwheat!"

I rode to the smith in Viru,
To the hammerer in Jarva,
The smith's dog was barking,
The smith's wife was laughing:
"Here comes my daughter-in-law,
Here steps my only son's wife!"

"No, no, no, no, dear mother,
I am not your daughter-in-law,
I do not step as your son's wife,
I am the wife of the golden spruce,
The daughter-in-law of the pine-hill,
A dear foster-child of the birch,
A grey tending-girl of the aspen.
Is your son, dear mother,
Is your son the very man
Who makes sickles out of tin,
Who casts teeth out of copper?"

"Surely my son is that very man,
Who draws fire from the sea,
Who bellows flame into the waves,
Who pulls kindling from the stones,
Who splits boards from the snow,
Who ties a knot in an egg,
Who twists a rope from chaff,
Who flings one end to heaven,
The other to the river Jordan."

House in the Wind

Tuba tuules

I went as a gosling to the water,
Began to swim as a goose,
The length of the sea, the breadth of the sea,
By moonlight, by nightlight,
By the light of heaven's stars.

Ships sailed across the sea,
The north wind blew crosswise,
I came to the edge of a great island,
To sit in the island's corner.
On the island there were three forests,
Golden was the spruce-forest,
Silver the pine-forest,
Braided too the birch-forest.
The spruces gleamed with gold,
The aspens poured copper,
The birches greened with braid,
The pines breathed mist from their branches,
The alders dripped tin.

Then I began to consider,
What should I do?
I built a house upon the wind,
A dwelling upon the hay-arch,
A sauna upon the island-root,
A kitchen upon a dock-leaf.
Inside it was bound with silk,
Outside laid in cloth,
The ceiling nailed with linen,
The roof of fishskin,
The ridge-beam feathered with goose-down.
From the Riga side it was crossed,
From the Narva side it was studded,
From the moon's side it was golden-hued,
From the sun's side it was pearl-hued,
From afar it was silver-hued.
The moon shone into my house,
Heaven lit through my window,
Stars sparkled into my bed,
When wind came it rang,
When sun shone it swelled from above.

Along the road passed merchant lords,
Near them the market lords,
Every Friday the lords of Riga,
The lords came to ask me:
"Is this the rich city of Riga,
Or the wise city of Tallinn,
Or the great salt-city,
Or the proper city of Parnu?"

I understood and answered:
"This is not the rich city of Riga,
Not the wise city of Tallinn,
Not the great salt-city,
Not the proper city of Parnu,
This is a tiny little room,
A shelter for poor children.
Inside it is bound with silk,
Outside adorned with gold,
Its oven is made of eel,
Its floor made of aprons,
Its fireplace of pike-jawbones,
Its threshold of beans!"

The Baptized Forest

Ristitud mets

Udres, Kudres, little boy,
Udres, Kudres, moon's servant,
Moon's servant, sun's child,
He slept in the grove's midst,
Between our forests.
Then the grove began to perish,
Our forest began to dry,
The grove beneath began to moulder,
Above the grove to scorch,
Within the grove to grow fungus.
The cuckoos ceased to call from above,
The thrushes within to sing,
The oxen beneath to bellow,
The squirrels at the top to live,
The gulls at the sea to cry,
The seals at the sea to call.

Who can baptize the forest,
Baptize it, christen it,
Who can fence the grove,
Who can cut the broad leaves?
They searched for a baptizer,
A baptizer, a christener,
They brought priests from Paide,
Sextons from across the church,
Masters from across the sea,
To baptize our forest,
To baptize it, to christen it,
To fence the grove.

They baptized, they christened
With nine lambs,
With one sheep's young;
The grove did not begin to green,
Our forest did not leaf,
Grass did not rise from the earth,
Cuckoos did not call within.
They baptized our forest,
They baptized, they christened,
With nine bullocks too,
With one cow's young,
The grove did not begin to green,
Our forest did not leaf,
Grass did not rise from the earth,
Cuckoos did not call within.

They baptized our forest,
They baptized, they christened,
In one maiden's name,
With one woman's daughter.
Then the grove began to thrive,
The grove's bushes to grow,
The thrushes within to sing,
The cuckoos above to call,
The squirrels at the top to live,
The gulls at the sea to cry,
The seals at the sea to call.

The Serf in Heaven

Ori taevas

Let no one tell me,
Let none speak to another,
How a serf must live,
How a poor one must suffer.
I myself know the serf's care,
The serf's care, the poor one's pain.
The serf must be diligent,
Early must the poor child rise,
Early rise and still be silent,
Hold his mouth shut.
He must rest but little,
Roll only a little sleep.

You do not know or understand
Where the serf sleeps his sleep:
In the great marsh, in the wide grove,
In the great marsh's middle,
In the wide grove's between,
A peat-ridge is his long bench,
A fallow is his great table,
A wet tuft is his pillow.

Who woke the serf,
Who roused the poor one!
A little bird flew near,
A small dove came,
A cuckoo flew to his hand,
A summer-bird to his mouth:
"Rise up, little serf,
Rise up to the morning,
Wash your eyes, comb your head,
Wash your mouth with thaw-silver,
Your hands with golden dew;
Go to the sea to fetch water,
To carry water from afar,
Up the hill to bring it!"

The serf went to the sea for water.
Who comes to meet him?
Mary comes to meet him.
Mary at once asking:
"Little serf, dear one,
For whom do you carry the water?"

"For the mistress to make bread,
For the master's son to wash his face,
For the master to wet his axe."

"Little serf, dear one,
Carry this water to the house,
Set the bucket on the floor,
Tell the master,
Speak to the mistress:
This is the last water to the house,
The last splinter to the stove,
I am going up to heaven,
I am going to tend Mary's child!"

Then two angels came,
They took the serf upon their shoulders,
Turned the serf upon their hands,
Carried the serf to heaven,
To the threshold of Mary's chambers,
To the mouth of the Creator's great door.

The serf there rattled the latch,
Shook the iron bolt.
Mary spoke from her chamber:
"Who rattles the latch,
Who shakes the iron bolt?"

The serf heard and answered:
"The serf rattles the latch,
The serf shakes the iron bolt."

Mary heard and answered:
"Come in, little serf,
Sit upon the golden stool,
The golden stool, the silver perch.
You had enough to mourn on earth,
Enough to mourn, enough to weep!"

A piece of white bread was given:
"Eat the bread, little serf!
You had enough hunger on earth!"

A tankard of ale was brought:
"Drink the ale, little serf!
You had enough water on earth!"

Who comes after the serf?
The master comes after him.
A yardstick long in his hand,
The mistress behind him,
A weaving-beam under her arm.
"Come, serf, take what is yours,
Come, poor one, take your toil,
Hired one, your heavy work,
Day-labourer, your daily wage!"

The serf spoke from his chamber:
"Keep it yourself, master,
Keep it yourself, mistress,
Carry your own broadcloth,
Wear your own fine shirt,
Mary has paid me here,
Heaven has rewarded me!
I do not want your reward in heaven,
Since you did not pay me there on earth,
When my body was tortured,
My arms tormented,
When my fingernails were freezing,
My fingertips were aching."

Mary spoke from her chamber:
"Come in, master,
Come in, mistress!"
A fiery stool was given:
"Sit upon the fire-stool,
The fire-stool, the tar-barrel!"

A fire-tankard was brought:
"Drink fire, swallow tar,
While the kettle is being mended,
While the cauldron is being tested,
A log beneath is being split!"

"You did not pay the serf's toil,
You did not pay upon the earth,
Nor gave beneath heaven,
Now you boil in the cauldron,
Now you burn in the kindling!"

The Grinding Maiden

Jahvatav neiu

I rose early in the morning,
Early before the light.
I washed my face, I combed my head,
I fastened shoes to my feet,
I hurried to do the work.

The millstone was brought from Kiev,
The stone-halves from Poland,
The stone-posts from Russia,
The axle pulled for grinding,
The stone set to turning.
I went, a child, to grind,
I went to turn the stone.
The stone rumbled in the house,
I ground, a simple one,
I ground in the chamber,
I turned in the cold cellar.
Who approached my threshold,
Who stepped to my window?
My brother approached the threshold,
My brother stepped to the window:
"Grind, sister, sing, child,
I will give you a granary as a gift,
I will fill it to the brim with grain!"

I ground, a simple one,
I sang as I was grinding,
I hummed in the cold cellar.
Who approached the threshold,
Who stepped to the window?

Mother approached the threshold,
Mother stepped to the window:
"Grind, daughter, sing, child,
What shall I give for your singing?
A sheep I will give for your singing,
A cow I will bestow for your songs!"

I ground, a simple one,
I hummed in the chamber,
I clattered in the cold cellar.
Who approached the threshold?
Father stepped to the window:
"Grind, daughter, sing, daughter,
What shall I share for your grinding?
For your grinding, for your singing?
I will give you a sturdy stallion,
I will bestow a proud horse."

I ground, a simple one,
I hummed in the chamber,
I clattered in the cold cellar.
Who approached the threshold,
Who stepped to the window?
My sister approached the threshold,
My sister stepped to the window:
"Grind, sister, sing, sister,
Turn the handmill quickly,
You will be given a great brooch,
You will be gifted a neck-cloth."

I ground, a simple one,
I hummed in the cold cellar.
Who approached the threshold,
Who stepped to the window?

My brother's wife, the little bird,
My brother's dear companion:
"Stop grinding, simple one,
Stop singing, little child!
Your father will not give the granary,
Nor your mother give the cow,
Your sister will not give the great brooch,
Nor your brother a grain of wheat."

I did not heed the warning,
Nor believe the telling.

I ground in the chamber,
I clattered in the cold cellar.
Who approached the threshold,
Who stepped to the window?

My brother's wife calling,
My brother's dear companion calling:
"Come to the room, little dove,
Leap to the chamber, dear one,
Suitors have come home for you,
Honour has approached your threshold."

I, the maiden, became a wife,
The grinder became a house-hen.
I came home from the husband's house,
Began humbly to ask:
"Dear sister,
Do you still remember what you said,
What you once promised?
Will I get the great brooch for my breast,
Will I get the fair cloth for my neck?"
"Sister, dear little bird,
I will not give or promise!"

I went to ask my brother:
"Dear brother,
Do you still remember what you said?
Will I get grain, will I get the granary?"

"Sister, dear little bird,
I will not give or promise."

Then to ask my mother:
"Dear mother,
A cow you promised for the work,
A sheep you promised for the singing?"

"Little daughter, tiny one,
I will not give or promise."

Then to ask my father:
"Dear father,
Bring the stallion you promised,
Give the proud horse!"

"Little daughter, tiny one,
I will not give or promise."

My brother's wife, the little bird,
Heard it, answered right away:
"Dear sister,
What came to you came to me,
What came to us both,
What comes to everyone.
Father will not give the horse,
Mother will not give the cow,
Sister will not give the great brooch."

The Ransomed Maiden

Lunastetav neiu

Anne, neatly combed in the Polish fashion,
Anne went to the storehouse to dress,
To the storehouse to comb her head,
Then went to the river to fetch water.
Sailors came to meet her,
They carried Anne into the boat.

Anne began to weep in the ship,
To plead with the sailors:
"Dear, dear sailors,
Boys of the tall sail,
Let the ship rock gently,
Just as a cradle rocks,
Let the ship reach land,
Reach land, row to shore,
Let me go home once,
I have an old mother at home,
Mother has three little chests,
One is a golden chest,
The second a silver chest,
The third a copper chest.
Perhaps she will give one for my sake,
Ransom me from the ship."

The mother heard and answered:
"I would sooner give Anne
Than give a little chest!"

Anne wept tenderly,
The captain laughed tenderly.
Anne then began to say:
"Dear, dear sailors,
Boys of the tall sail,
Let the ship rock gently,
Just as a cradle rocks,
Perhaps we will reach the city of Riga,
There I have a father,
Father has three little storehouses,
One is a golden storehouse,
The second a silver storehouse,
The third a copper storehouse.
Perhaps he will give one for my sake,
Ransom me from the ship."

The father heard and answered:
"I would sooner give Anne
Than give a little storehouse.
The storehouse is mine for life,
Anne is only for a little while!"

Anne wept tenderly,
The captain laughed tenderly.
Anne then began to say:
"Dear, dear sailors,
Boys of the tall sail,
Let the ship rock gently,
Just as a cradle rocks,
Perhaps we will reach the city of Riga,
There I have a little brother,
Brother has three good horses,
One is a stallion with a golden mane,
The second a stallion with a silver mane,
The third a stallion with a copper mane.
Perhaps he will give one for my sake,
Ransom me from the ship."

The brother heard and answered:
"I would sooner give Anne
Than give my own horse!
The horse is mine for life,
Anne is only for a little while!"

Anne wept tenderly,
The captain laughed tenderly.
Anne then began to say:
"Dear, dear sailors,
Boys of the tall sail,
Let the ship rock gently,
Just as a cradle rocks,
Perhaps we will reach the city of Riga,
There I have a little sister,
Sister has three fine blankets,
One is a blanket of golden weave,
The second a blanket of silver weave,
The third a blanket of copper weave.
Perhaps she will give one for my sake,
Ransom me from the ship!"

The sister heard and answered:
"I would sooner give Anne
Than give my own blanket.
The blanket is mine for life,
Anne is only for a little while!"

Anne wept tenderly,
The captain laughed tenderly.
Anne then began to say:
"Dear, dear sailors,
Boys of the tall sail,
Let the ship rock gently,
Just as a cradle rocks,
Perhaps we will reach the city of Riga,
There I have a bridegroom,
The bridegroom has three little ships,
One is a golden ship,
The second a silver ship,
The third a copper ship.
Perhaps he will give one for my sake,
Ransom me from the ship."

The bridegroom heard and answered:
"I would sooner give the golden ship
Than give Anne.
Anne is mine for life,
The ship is only for a little while!"

Anne wept tenderly with joy,
The captain wept tenderly!

War

Soda

A crow, a gentle bird,
Perched in our rowan tree,
Rocked in our apple tree,
Its head turned to the sunrise,
Its tail toward Sandri's manor,
It brought tidings of war,
It carried words of enmity.

Who from us shall go to war?
Shall the father go or the mother,
Shall the youngest son go,
Shall the son-in-law go, the little brother?
The father will not go, the mother will not go,
The father is old, the mother is old,
The father grey upon the oven,
The sister tender in the cradle,
She wants to raise the child on milk,
To nourish it on fresh cream,
To wean it on butter.
The son-in-law is behind seven walls,
In the eighth chamber,
Behind the ninth door,
Where he hears no rooster's voice,
No cry of a weak child.

The youngest brother must go,
Brother must ride to war.

Brother went to the storehouse to dress,
Mother went to the storehouse to teach him,
To teach him, to weep.
His wife wept beside him:
"Little son, little boy,
Put on the war-shirt,
Put war-stockings on your feet,
Put on the war-tunic,
Beneath it the fur coat.
When you ride the war-road,
Do not go to the front of battle,
At the front the fire is red.
Do not ride at the rear of battle,
At the rear the smoke is blue.
Turn through the middle of battle,
Near the standard-bearer.
Those at the front are cut down,
Those at the rear are killed,
Those in the middle come home.
When you start to return,
Do not come by way of the sea,
The sea is full of men's heads.
Do not come by way of Narva,
Narva is full of women's heads.
Do not come by way of Koiva,
Koiva is full of death's heads.
Come straight home,
Come by your own made road,
Where your father walked before,
Walked before, left his tracks."

The brother rode weeping to war,
Turning his head toward the host.

He was at war for seven summers,
He came home on the eighth.
The horse beneath him like an oven,
The man upon it like the sun,
His hat like a church-bell,
His belt like a city's flag-rope,
His head thick with men above,
His feet thin with men below.

He rode into his father's yard:
"Come out, dear father,
Come out, know this man!"

The father came, did not know his son:
"A Russian man, a Russian horse,
A Russian whip in hand,
Russian boots on his feet,
Russian knout under his arm,
Russian gloves on his hands,
Russian writing on his gloves."

He rode to his mother's door:
"Come out, dear mother,
Come out, know this man!"

The mother came, did not know the man:
"A Russian man, a Russian horse,
A Russian whip in hand,
Russian boots on his feet,
Russian knout under his arm,
Russian gloves on his hands,
Russian writing on his gloves!"

He rode to his brother's door:
"Come out, dear brother,
Come out, know your brother!"

The brother came, did not know his brother:
"A Russian man, a Russian horse,
A Russian whip in hand,
Russian boots on his feet,
Russian knout under his arm,
Russian gloves on his hands,
Russian writing on his gloves."

He rode to his sister's door:
"Come out, dear sister,
Come out, know your brother!"

The sister came, did not know her brother:
"A Russian man, a Russian horse,
A Russian whip in hand,
Russian boots on his feet,
Russian knout under his arm,
Russian gloves on his hands,
Russian writing on his gloves!"

He rode to his wife's door:
"Come out, dear wife,
Come out, know this man!"

The wife came, knew her husband:
"My own man, a Russian horse,
My own woven coat,
My own made blanket,
My own packed bundle,
My own gloves on his hands,
My own writing on his gloves.

Come inside, dear one,
Come inside to greet us!"

"Golden wife, dear wife,
Take the keys from the rack,
The curved hook from the ceiling-beam,
Then step toward the storehouse,
Bring from there an old blanket,
A bright cover from the chest-lid,
Rub the horse free of sweat,
Wash the sword free of blood,
Clean the boots free of dust.
Then I shall begin to speak,
To tell the words of war!"

The brother was taken to the sauna,
To the sauna to be washed.

"Tell us now the war-story,
How they fight in war,
Or there chop through Swedes,
Travel under Riga.
Is a wife dear in war,
A wife dear, a companion precious?"

"No, no, no, no, dear mother,
No, no, no, no, dear father,
No, no, no, no, dear sister,
A wife is not dear in war,
A wife not dear, a companion not precious.
In war the blue sword is dear,
Precious the stiff-headed horse.

That delivers a man from war,
A man's son from Poland,
A man's brother from Russia.

So much men's blood in war
As water in our sea,
So many men's heads in war
As hummocks in the marsh,
So many finger-bones in war
As reeds on the meadow-shore,
So many shin-bones in war
As firewood in the pile."

Thomas's Song

Tooma laul

Thomas the proud, a short man,
Vowed to live without a wife,
To grow without a companion.
He lived and he dwelt,
He could not live without a wife,
Nor grow without a companion.
He wanted to make a wife of wood,
A second half of bark,
To put gold for a face,
Silver for beauty,
But the gold would not stay on the face,
The silver would not stay for beauty,
It melted away eating salt,
It burned away setting the pot.

Thomas the proud, a short man,
Set off on the courting-road,
A little way on the maiden-road,
Courted a wife in three days,
Took her in five weeks,
Took a rich daughter from Riga,
A wise daughter from Tartu.

While the wife was dear,
The wife dear, the companion precious,
Until she brought a lap-full,
A handful in her arms;
He began to push the wife aside,
To shove the other half away.

Thomas the proud, a short man,
No longer thought of other talk,
No other speech did he speak:
"Where shall I put the old wife,
Where shall I push the other half!"

A dark man came from elsewhere,
The devil came to teach him:
"Here is where to put the old wife,
Here is where to push the other half:
Send Mari to fetch sap,
Sap from the birch, sap from the maple,
Dig a grave beneath the birch,
Seven fathoms deep,
Dig it ten ells wide,
Cover it carefully with branches,
Neatly with turf,
So her mind does not notice the grave,
Her mind the grave, her eye the depth.
Then throw yourself on the bed,
Lay your head on the pillows,
Begin to demand sap,
To want maple-water."

Thomas the proud, a short man,
Tapped the birch in the birch-grove,
The maple on the hillock's slope,
Set beneath it a golden bucket,
A golden bucket, a copper vat.
Then he threw himself on the straw,
Laid himself to rest on the pillow,
Began to demand sap,
To want maple-water.

The young wife
Quickly argued back:
"In our house there is fresh kvass,
Sweet mead in the ale-barrel!"

Thomas the proud, a short man,
Spoke from his side:
"I do not want your kvass,
Nor desire our mead;
Go to the birch on the hill,
To fetch maple-water!"

The young wife
Wanted to please her husband's mind,
To follow her companion's command,
To go to the hill for sap,
To fetch maple-water home.

She went to the storehouse to dress,
To put the rosary on her breast,
The bright chest by her side,
The white box by its edge.
She found the jewelry weeping,
The rosaries shedding many tears.
The young wife asking,
The companion at once inquiring:
"Why do you weep, little jewel,
Why do you cry, little ornament?"

"This I weep, dear wife,
I grieve, dear companion,
There will be none to put us on a back,
None to clasp us on!"

The young wife answered:
"Do not weep, little jewel,
Two children mourn for me,
Two sorrow-bearers.
Surely they will ask for you,
Surely they will clasp you on their backs."

The wife went on her way,
First asking her father-in-law:
"Tell me, wise old father,
Thomas groans upon his straw,
He rests in bed at length,
He demands sap from the hill,
Maple-water from the birch-grove.
Must I now go,
To fetch the sweet sap?"

"Go, go, daughter-in-law,
Go according to your husband's will,
Walk according to his command."

The wife went to ask her mother-in-law:
"Dear mother,
Must I go to the hill,
To fetch the sweet sap?"

"Go, go, daughter-in-law,
Go according to your husband's will,
Walk according to his command!"

"Dear mother,
When I go to the birch-path,
My poor children are left behind,
Two sorrow-bearers.
Watch over my motherless children,
Guard my poor children."

The mother-in-law said:
"Go then, go, my daughter-in-law,
Go, go, fleet-foot.
Your poor ones will be watched,
Your two will be raised
In a soft nest under the bench,
A warm room under the threshold;
The broom will get meat from beside the meat,
Fish-heads from beside the fish!"

The wife went to the sap-hill,
To the grove for maple-water.
Her sister-in-law spoke from the field,
Her brother's wife from the herding:
"Do not go, daughter-in-law,
Do not go, brother's wife,
There wolves went in packs,
Bears vanished like cattle,
Five went as lookouts to the parish,
Two rafts of predators,
All rolling toward your blood,
Gathering for the slaughter!"

The young wife
Did not heed the warning,
Nor ask about the forbidding,
She went to the sap-hill,
To catch it in the golden bucket,
To pour from the copper vat.
She heard a rustling from the marsh,
A crackling from the reeds,
Out rolled a dark man,
A dark man, a son of hell,
His poisoned axe rumbling,
His copper blade trembling,
His sharp voice screeching:
"Put your head on the block,
Your dear hair on the beam!"

A sparrow sang in the alder-top,
A bluebird by the birch.
The wife pleaded with the sparrow:
"Blue-winged little bird,
Wax-footed sparrow,
Carry the news to my brothers,
Give word to my dear ones,
Bring word home:
Here a wife is being killed,
Holy blood is being spilled!"

The blue-winged little bird,
The wax-footed sparrow,
Carried the news to the brothers,
Gave word to the dear ones,
Brought word home.

Home came the father at once,
Five little brothers rolling in,
They built a fire in the lane,
A great blaze on the open field,
They carried Thomas into the fire,
Put the boy in the blaze,
Both feet in shackles,
Five fingers in bonds.

Thomas spoke from the fire,
Spoke from the blaze:
"Listen, listen, young men,
Listen, all you suitors,
Do not do such a deed
As I, the foolish one, did:
I sent to death my young wife,
To ruin my other half!
Take a wife for all your days,
A dear one for your lifetime,
Always live beautifully,
Your life together gracefully!"

Mai

Mai of Torma, little maiden,
She rode along the Torma road,
A straw was in her mouth, a wreath on her head,
A goose-leaf between her teeth,
A copper apron at her toes.

Juri of Torma, little boy,
He stormed up Tormastu hill,
Golden carbines jingled,
Beads clinked on his sword-hilt.
Juri went to woo a wife,
To court a house-hen.
He brought Mai home.

Mai made a bed for the bench,
A bed for the platform,
She placed a knife by one post,
A spear at the other end.
Juri rolled from the bed,
Rolled sideways onto the knife,
Rolled endwise onto the spear.

The mother-in-law woke in the morning,
Went to call them from the chamber:
"Oh Mai, my daughter-in-law,
Rise to drive out the cattle,
Others' calves are on the grass,
Our calves are elsewhere!"

"Oh mother-in-law, my own,
I cannot rise, I cannot wake!"

The mother-in-law went to drive the cattle,
Mai stayed home to sleep.
The village women asked,
The local maidens,
The neighbouring daughters:
"Where is Mai, the daughter-in-law?"

The mother-in-law heard and answered:
"Mai sleeps in her bed!"

The mother-in-law came back from driving cattle,
She went to wake her:
"Rise up, little Mai,
Rise up, lift your head!"

She found the bed bloody,
The linens alder-red,
The foggy shrouds,
The fine pillows spotted.

"Oh Mai, my daughter-in-law,
Why is your bed bloodied,
The bed's edges all bloody?
Perhaps you killed your young husband,
Your young husband, your dear companion,
Murdered your sleeping spouse!"

"Oh mother-in-law, my own,
I did not kill my young husband,
Not my young husband, not my dear companion,
Not murdered my sleeping spouse!
Oh mother-in-law, my own,
In the house I killed a house-lamb,
In the barn a white-headed calf,
On the grass a black rooster!"

The mother-in-law was quick to believe,
Eager to accept.
She went to the house to look:
In the house was a house-lamb,
In the barn a white-headed calf,
On the grass a black rooster.

Mai understood, answered:
"Juri rolled from the bed,
Rolled sideways onto the knife,
Rolled endwise onto the spear.
Take the rosary for the face,
The beads for the dear soul."

The mother-in-law understood, answered:
"The rosary does not pay for the face,
The beads for the dear soul!
Oh Mai, my daughter-in-law,
The catchers are coming.
What death shall we give you?
Shall we give you death by fire,
Or death by iron's cutting,
Or death by drowning in water?"

"Oh mother-in-law, my own,
Bitter is death by fire,
Heavy is death by iron's cutting,
Grievous is drowning in water.
Bring me blue threads,
Bring me red threads,
Make the fire blue,
Make the fire red!"

The mother-in-law went to fetch the threads,
Mai got her feet to running,
Her toes to striding boldly,
Her heels to digging the earth.
Mai dashed into the alders,
Mai fled into the willows.

"Oh alder, protect me,
Dear alder, shelter me!
I have pursuers behind me,
Halters in the pursuers' hands,
Ropes with the binders!"

The alder spoke with its tongue:
"Listen, Mai, daughter-in-law,
In the village they make much kindling,
In the parish many bundles,
From here you would be found,
Then we would both be ruined,
Both of us in trouble!"

Mai dashed a stretch of road,
A stretch of road, a patch of ground,
She dashed through sweet sand.
What met Mai there?
A thick willow-forest came.

"Oh willow, protect me,
Dear willow, shelter me!
I have pursuers behind me,
Halters in the pursuers' hands,
Ropes with the binders!"

The willow spoke with its tongue:
"Listen, Mai, daughter-in-law,
My bitter bark-time is coming,
My hot gadfly-time is coming,
When cattle are sought,
When fireplace-coals are pulled.
From here you would be found,
Then we would both be ruined,
Both of us in trouble!"

Mai dashed a stretch of road,
A stretch of road, a patch of ground.
What met Mai there?
A sparse aspen-forest came:
"Oh aspen, protect me,
Dear aspen, shelter me!
I have pursuers behind me,
Halters in the pursuers' hands,
Ropes with the binders!"

The aspen spoke with its tongue:
"Below I am sparse, above I am thick,
From here you would be found,
Then we would both be ruined,
Both of us in trouble!"

Mai cursed the aspen:
"So shall your leaves tremble
As Mai's flesh trembles!"

Mai dashed a stretch of road,
A stretch of road, a patch of ground.
What met Mai there?
A great spruce-forest came:
"Oh spruce, protect me,
Dear spruce, shelter me!
I have pursuers behind me,
Halters in the pursuers' hands,
Ropes with the binders!"

The spruce spoke with its tongue:
"In the village ten men die,
Ten men, ten women,
From me planks are split,
From me beams are taken,
From me coffins are shaped,
From here you would be found."

Mai dashed a stretch of road,
A stretch of road, a patch of ground.
What met Mai there?
A river came to meet her:
"Oh river, protect me,
Dear river, shelter me,
Bury Mai, cover Mai!
I have pursuers behind me,
Halters in the pursuers' hands,
Ropes with the binders!"

The river spoke with its tongue:
"I cannot, I cannot, little Mai,
I cannot bury, I cannot cover,
From me fish-nets are drawn,
From my depth you would be found,
Then we would both be ruined,
Both of us in trouble!"

Mai dashed a stretch of road,
A stretch of road, a patch of ground.
What met Mai there?
The sea came to meet her:
"Oh sea, protect me,
Dear sea, shelter me,
Cover Mai, bury Mai!
I have pursuers behind me,
Halters in the pursuers' hands,
Ropes with the binders!"

The sea spoke with its tongue:
"I cannot, I cannot, little Mai,
I cannot bury, I cannot cover,
From me fish are caught,
From within you would be found,
Then we would both be ruined,
Both of us in trouble!"

Mai dashed a stretch of road,
A stretch of road, a patch of ground.
What met Mai there?
A black ox came to meet her.

"Listen, ox, protect me,
Dear ox, shelter me,
I have pursuers behind me,
Halters in the pursuers' hands,
Ropes with the binders!"

The ox spoke with its tongue:
"Listen, Mai, daughter-in-law,
Come upon my back,
Stand at my horn's root.
I will carry you a stretch through Turkey,
A little way through Russia,
Half a verst through Poland!"

Maret

Maret, Karet, the maiden,
Madli the lowly spirit,
Sent the cattle far away,
Far off to the hayfield,
She found a child in the alders,
On the hill among the hummocks.
She took the newborn to her bosom,
Wrapped the child in swaddling,
Bound it in a silk kerchief,
Set it in ribboned bands,
She brought it to the maidens' room,
Into the midst of the wreathed heads:
"Come together to witness,
Whose creature the Creator made,
Whose beautiful little soul,
Whose lovely little face,
Whose cheeks are red?"

One swore, another swore,
Swore by body, swore by soul,
Swore the body to hell,
The head to the devil's nest,
The body to the boiling cauldron,
Swore the hands had not touched,
The fingers had not grasped.

Where shall the little child be placed?
It was brought to the young men's room,
Into the midst of the hatted heads:
"Come together to witness,
Whose creature the Creator made,
Whose lovely little face,
Whose cheeks are red?"

One swore, another swore,
Hannus, the Saaremaa lord's son,
Kuresaare master's son,
He was fierce in his swearing,
Swore by body, swore by soul,
Swore the body to hell,
The head to the devil's nest,
The eyes to the fiend's lap,
The body to the boiling cauldron,
Swore the hands had not touched,
The fingers had not grasped.

Madli took the child to her lap:
"Where shall we put the child?
Shall we take it to the fire to burn
Or to the water to drown?"

But the child spoke from the pillow,
Made a sound from beneath the blanket:
"Hannus, the Saaremaa lord's son,
Kuresaare master's son,
He is my father,
Maret, Karet, the maiden,
She is my mother!
My kin are in Finland,
My true brothers in Parnu-land,
My father's brothers in Hiiumaa.
My kin expected me to die,
My brothers to roll in the water,
My sisters to fall in the river!"

Jesus's Journey

Jeesuse soit

Jesus rode along the river,
Holy Mary along the bank.
What came to meet them?
A little mouse came to meet them,
A mouse, a good horse,
An iron-hoofed steed came to meet them.
Jesus spoke to the steed:
"Greetings, mouse, good horse,
Greetings, steed, iron-hoofed,
Carry Jesus over the water,
Bear Mary to the other shore!"

The mouse spoke with its tongue,
The horse gladly understood:
"How can I not carry Jesus's son,
How can I not carry Mary's mother?
I am very weary,
Heavily exhausted:
Yesterday I rode to war,
Today I rode to a wedding,
From my mouth was washed bloody foam,
From my head was washed bridle-blood!"

Jesus rode along the river,
Holy Mary along the bank.
What came to meet them?
A church came to meet them,
Golden-domed, silver-crossed.

Jesus spoke to the church:
"Greetings, church, golden dome,
Golden dome, silver cross,
Carry Jesus over the water,
Bear Mary to the other shore!"

"How can I carry Jesus's son,
Or bear Mary's mother:
Tomorrow is the great holy day,
Inside me the priests are preaching,
The schoolchildren singing many songs,
A blue-shirted one sings within,
Yellow fur-coats walk about!"

Jesus rode along the lake,
Holy Mary along the bank.
What came to meet them?
An ox came to meet them.

"Greetings, ox, crooked-horn,
Carry Jesus over the water,
Bear Mary to the other shore,
Carry me to the other farm!"

The ox spoke with its tongue,
The crooked-horn gladly understood:
"How can I not carry Jesus's son,
Nor bear Mary's mother:
The ox's horn is grown with moss,
The ox's yoke has broken the hump!"

Jesus then began to say:
"I will put gold on the hump,
Silver on the mossy horn,
Just carry Jesus over the water!"

He put gold on the hump,
Silver on the mossy horn.
Then Jesus crossed the river,
Mary reached the other farm.

Jesus spoke to the ox,
He told the crooked-horn:
"When this ox is slaughtered,
When the holy blood is drawn,
The kin shall be gathered,
The dear ones brought together,
Feasts shall be held for you.

Where the horse is slaughtered,
Where that flesh is killed?
At the marsh's edge in the hollow,
At the grove's edge in the pit,
Where the crows are cawing,
Where the ravens are croaking,
Where all roll toward the blood,
Where all quarrel over the carcass!"

Savior Mary

Paastja Maarja

The world drowned in fog,
The earth was lost in dew.
The lords tried to set the world right,
The masters to adorn it with beauty.
There was no sun upon the world,
There was no dawn beneath the world,
There was no moon on high,
There were no more stars in heaven.

There is no sun upon the world,
There is no dawn beneath the world,
Jesus the son was destroyed,
The holy God was tortured,
Jesus was laid out in fire,
Both feet in shackles,
Five fingers in the rack,
A rod at his waist, a switch in his mouth.

Jesus spoke from the fire,
Jesus spoke from the blaze:
"Who will bring word to Mary,
Give news to the beloved,
That Jesus is being destroyed,
The holy God is being tortured?"

A fish had been placed in a pan,
The fish went to swim in the sea,
The fish brought word to Mary:
"Mary, come to see the earth,
Jesus the son is being destroyed,
The holy God is being tortured."

But Mary did not believe the tale,
Did not believe it, did not think it true.

Jesus spoke from the fire,
Jesus spoke from the blaze:
"Who will bring word to Mary,
Give news to the beloved?"

A rooster had been put boiling in the pot,
Half boiled, half still whole,
The rooster went to crow on the perch,
The rooster went to bring Mary word.

But Mary did not believe the tale,
Did not believe it, did not think it true,
That Jesus was being destroyed,
The holy God being tortured.

Jesus spoke from the fire,
Jesus spoke from the blaze:
"Who will bring word to Mary,
Give news to the beloved?"

An ox had been boiling in the hot cauldron,
Half boiled, half still whole,
The ox went to the hill with a roar,
The ox brought word to Mary,
Gave news to the beloved.

But Mary did not believe the tale,
Did not believe it, did not think it true.

Jesus spoke from the fire,
Jesus spoke from the blaze:
"Who will bring word to Mary,
Give news to the beloved?"

The world had a beautiful daughter,
Beneath heaven a wise child,
She ran to God's threshold,
She ran to Mary's house,
Knocking on the golden ring,
Rattling the silver latch:
"Listen, Mary, my mother,
Beautiful adorner of the world,
There is no sun upon the world,
There is no dawn beneath the world,
There is no moon on high,
There are no stars in heaven.
The lords tried to set the world right,
The masters to adorn it with beauty,
The lords could not set the world right,
Nor the masters adorn it.
Mary, come to see the earth,
Jesus the son is being destroyed,
The holy God is being tortured!"

Mary called three daughters,
Called two little hens:
"Anna dear, Kati precious,
Hedo, gentle little daughter,
Bring me clothes quickly,
Carry shoes to my hands at once,
Bring a silver coat to the room,
Carry a silk shirt to the chamber.
I shall go to see the earth!"

She called at once three servants,
She asked many hired hands:
"Servant, harness the horse,
Hired man, put it to,
Serf, find the reins,
Herder, make the shafts,
Fleet-foot, turn the sleigh.
I shall go to see the earth!"

They harnessed the horse,
They put the swift one to the carriage,
The Father sat in front,
Holy Mary sat behind,
The poor child sat between.
They came down to see the earth,
To adorn the world with beauty,
They took Jesus from the fire's hand,
The holy blood from the torment's hand,
Ten fingers from the rope's twist,
Both hands from the shackles.
Then the sun came upon the world,
Then the dawn came beneath the world,
Then the moon rose on high,
The stars came into heaven.

The Kantele

Kannel

Let us begin to play the kantele.
What does the kantele need?
Planks the kantele needs.

Where did the kantele get planks?
From the old lion's jawbones,
There it got planks for the kantele.

Where did the kantele get pegs?
From the old pike's teeth.

Where did the kantele get a bow?
From the old pike's rib-bones.

Where did the kantele get strings?
From a gentle sister's hair.

Where did the kantele get a player?
From one's own dear brother.

Where did the kantele get a dancer?
From one's own gentle sister.

Where did the kantele get a singer?
From one's own dear brother's wife.

Colophon

Good Works Translation from Estonian by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026. Source text: M.J. Eisen, Eesti rahwalaulud (Estonian Folk Songs), Tallinn, 1919. Public domain (Project Gutenberg #62471). Translation prepared directly from the Estonian by Regi, Uralic Alpha Translator.

These twenty-nine narrative ballads represent one of the richest surviving collections of Estonian oral verse. The regilaul tradition — shared with Finnish runolaulu — preserves pre-Christian narrative motifs alongside Christian-era syncretism (Jesus and Mary appear alongside magical transformations and animal speech). Eisen's 1919 compilation drew on decades of fieldwork across Estonia, capturing songs that had been transmitted orally for centuries.

Compiled and formatted for the Good Work Library by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, 2026.

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Source Text: Eesti rahwalaulud

Estonian source text from M.J. Eisen, Eesti rahwalaulud (Estonian Folk Songs), Tallinn, 1919. Public domain (Project Gutenberg #62471). Presented here for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above.

Ilulaul

liulaul.

Jlu sõitis jõge pidi,
Laulu laia välja pidi,
Hobu hoietud eessa,
Regi tammine tagana,
Naine roogune reessa.
Sõnad sõelaga sülessa.
Laulud lõngaga kaelassa.

Näginekse, kuulunekse,
Kes küll vasta puutunekse,
Puutunekse, juhtunekse?
Vasta puutus poiste hulka,
Kamand kaabukandajaida.
Nemad haardsid küsitella,

Küsitella, nõuatella :
Kuhu lähed, Ilukene,
Kuhu lased, laulukene?
Kas sa. Ilu meile tuled,
Kas sa, tantsu, meida tahad?

Ilu keelilla kõneles,
Ilu täidis^ vasta lausus:
Ega ma Ilu teile lähe,
Ega ma tantsu teile taha;
Ei ma taha poiste hulka,
Kallu ei poiste kamandusse,
Ihata ei poiste ilu.
Taheta ei poiste tantsu,
Poistel onvad- puised sõnad,
Lõhmuksised laulukesed.
Lähete nurme kündema,
Kallute atra kandema,
Sealla ilu unustate,
Laulu meelest minetate.

Ilu sõitis jõge })idi,
Laulu laia välja pidi,
Hobu hoietud eessa.
Regi tammine tagana.
Naine roogune reessa,
Sõnad sõelaga sülessa.
Laulud lõngaga kaelassa.

Näginekse, kuulunekse.
Kes küll vasta pimtunekse,
Puutiinekse, juhtunekse ?
Vasta puutus naiste hulka,
Puutus lidu-^ linikpäida-^.
Nemad haardsid küsitella,
Küsitella, nõuatella :
Kuhu lähed, Ilukene,
Kuhu lased, laulukene?
Kas sa, Ilu, meile tuled,
Kas sa, tantsu, meida tahad?

Ilu keelilla kõneles,
Ilu täidis, vasta lausus :
Ega ma Ilu teile lähe,
Ega ma tantsu teile taha;
Ei ma taha naiste hulka.
Kallu ei naiste kamandusse.
Taha ei ligi linikpäida,
Ihata ei naiste ilu.
Taheta ei naiste tantsu,_
Kaeta ei naiste kargust"^;
Naiste läks nalja Narvamaale,
Naiste läks lusti Luigamaale,
Õunapuusse ilusasse,
Verevass,e vislapuusse;
Teie ilu unustate.
Laulu meelest minetate :

On teil lapsed pisukesed,
Onvad kasinad kanased,
Lähete ulli uinutama,
Meelimarja minetama,
Saa ei te laulu laulamaie,
Saa ei te ilu iskimaie.
Sestap te ilu unustate,
Laulu meelest minetate.

Ilu sõitis jõge pidi,
Laulu laia välja pidi,
Habu hoietud eessa,
Regi tammine tagana,
Naine roogune reessa.
Sõnad sõelaga sülessa,
Laulud lõngaga kaelassa.

Näginekse, kuulunekse.
Kes küll vasta puutunekse,
Puutunekse, juhtunekse?
Vasta puutus neiu hulka,
Kamand kardavanikuida^
Nemad haardsid küsitella,

Küsitella, nõuatella :
Kuhu lähed, Ilukene,
Kuhu lased, laulukene?
Kas sa, Ilu, meile tuled,
Kas sa, tantsu, meida tahad?

Ilu keelilla kõneles.
Ilu täidis, vasta lausus :
Küllap ma Ilu teile lähen.
Küllap ma tantsu teida tahan;
Lähen lustil neiu hulka,
Kallun neiu kamandusse,
Tahetie neiu tantsu,
Kaetie kao kargust,
Ihati ilupidamist.
Ega te ilu unustele.
Laulu meelest minetele :
Neiul ilu eessa jooksis,
Nalja tagana naeratas.
Ise keeras keskeessa.
Ise valas ta vahella, —
Sestap te ilu ei unusta,
Laulu meelest ei mineta.
Kui on kuu kirja seešsa,
Päeva pesa ääre pealla,
Nii on neiud ilu seessa,
Lapsed laulude vahella.

Tuli Ilu neiu hulka,
Kaldus neiu kamandusse,
Tuli tema ihatessa,
Kaldus tema kareldessa.

Sõnade seletus: 1. taidma mõistma. 2.
onvad — mitmus sõnast „<» n". 3. lidu — salk.
4. linikpää — naine, sest et nad „linikut" pääs
kannavad. 5. kargus — hüppamine. 6. kardava-
ni s — neid ehk neiu, tüdruk, sest et nad „kardvani-
kuid" (pärgi) peas kannavad. Dr, J. Hurti järele.

Vee toomine

Vee toomine.

Sula Salmr neitsikene.
Sula Salme, suuri tarka,
Käimale ülikäreda :
Mine, too vesi meresta,
Sõelaga saripesalla,
Kapaga kahe vahella,
Tilguta tinakibuUa,
Too siis äial peada pesta !

Äi võttis vee vihaksi,
Viskas vetta silmadele,
Kallas vee kaela peale :
„Miks jäid kauaks kaevuteele?"

„Ma jäin väljas vaatamaie,
Kudas need kalad kudusid,
Kudas haugid andsid katta,
Kudas siiad seliti,
Kudas lutsud loivad looka.
Emakalad heitelesid!"

„Sula Salme, neitsikene.
Sula Salme, suuri tarka,
Käimale ülikäreda ;
Mine, too vesi meresta.

Sõelaga saripesalla,

Kapaga kahevahella,

Tilguta tinakibulla,

Too siis ämmal peada pesta!"

Ämm võttis vee vihaksi,

Viskas vetta silmadele,

Kallas vee kaela peale :

„iMiks jäid kauaks kaevuteele?'

„Ma jäin väljas vaatamaie,
Kudas need kalad kudusid,
Kudas haugid andsid katta,
Kudas siiad selitie,
Kudas lutsud loivad looka.
Emakalad heitelesid!"

Sula Salme neitsikene,
Sula Salme, suuri tarka,
Käimale ülikäreda :
„Mine, too vesi meresta.
Sõelaga saripesalla,
Kapaga kahe vahella,
Tilguta tinakibulla,
Too siis peiul' peada pesta!"

Peig võttis vee heaksi.
Ei visand vetta silmadele.
Ega kallana kaela peale.

„Mis sa, kallis, kaevul nägid?"

„Ma jäin väljas vaatamaie,
Kudas need kalad kudusid,
Kudas haugid andsid katta,
Kudas siiad seletie,
Kudas lutsud loivad looka.
Emakalad heitelesid!"

Lemming

Lemming.

Mis mina võtan lauldakseni,
Kas võtan vana Kalevi
Või võtan uue Utregase
Või võtan noore Lemmingase?

Vana on vana Kalevi,
Uus on uusi Utregane,
NooF on noori Lemmingane.

Lemingi isa põdesi,
Lemingi ema põdesi
Seitse soojada suveda,
Kaheksa kena kevadet,
Kümme külma talvetagi.
Ei ustud häda hädaksi,
Ei ustud tõbe tõbeksi,
Ägamist ei haiguseksi;
Võtsid voodid mädaneda,
Aluslauad hallitada,
Siis usti häda hädaksi,
•Ja usti tõbe tõbeksi,
Ägamine haiguseksi.

Lemming,, Lemming poisikene,
Võta sina pullud puusadele,
Kivirihmad rindadel»*.
Vii võrgud Viru vedeje,
Kanna Harju allikasse.
Too sealta seda kalada,
Mis teeb isa terveeksi.
Ja teeb ema terveeksi.

Harja otsimine

Harja otsimine.

Veere, veere, päevakene.
Veere päeva vete mööda.
Lase kase latva mööda.
Veere päeva, me väsime,
Kulu päeva me kulume.
Väsivad mehed vägevad.
Tüdivad mehed tugevad,
Miks ei tüdi tütarlapsi.
Mis saab tühjasta tüdida,
Vähikesesta väsida.
Iga õiest õiguneda,
Munakoorest murduneda !

Ei ole aega päeval veerda,

Päev istub mere veeru pealla,
Soeb neid sulaste päida,
Kammib karjalaste päida,
Piirab piigadegi päida,
Hari kullane käessa,
Laasiline pealauda.
Hari sulpsatas meresse,
Pealauda lainetesse.

Kesse tonb soa meresta,
Harja laia lainetesta?
Läksin Peetri palveelle,
Andrese hüva sõnale :
„01i Peeter, püha sulane,
Mine, too hari 'meresta,
Pealauda lainetesta,
Kuldakammi kaldaasta!"

Ei olnd aega Andresella,
Pisut aega Peeterilla,
Palju aega Paavalilla:
Peeter tegi pingikesi,
Andres aluslauakesi,
Paavel peale padjasida.

Läksin ise illukene.
Mööda teeda tillukene.
Mööda maad madalakene.
Mööda rohtu roosikene,
Mööda wetta vähäldane,
Mööda kallast kaunikene
Helmini Emajõgeje,
Kaelani kala meresse.
Mis mu! puusa puutunessa?
Mõõka puusa puutunessa.
Mis mul vööni välgateli?
Kala vööni välgateli.
Mis mul kaela kahvateli?
Vesi kaela kahvateli.
Võtsin ma mõõga kädeje,
Viisin mõõga mõisajehe,

„0h sa lolli lapsukeiie,
Ei või meelel merde minna,
Kaelani karata jõkke,
Meri on suuri ja sügava,
lõgi laia ja lageda."
Panin saksa laua peale.
Teise kannu kaane peale.
Mõistke, mõistke, mõisasaksad,
Arvake, valla vanemad,
Kust see mõõka välja võetud,
•Terariista tuppa toodud?

Ei siis mõistnud mõisa saksad,
Ei arvanud valla vanemad.
Tuli vallast vaene lapsj,
la kihelkonnast kerjajagi,
See mõistis mõõga ülesse :
„See mõõk on meresta toodud,
Mere vahusta valatud,
Mere kohrust kokku pandud.
Sõjameeste sääreluista.
Poisikeste põlveluista.
Kalameest;! kalaluista.
Harju m.eeste hambaluista."

Läksin uuesti meresse,
Labaluuni lainetesse.
Mis mul hõlma helksateli,
la minu põlve puutunekse?
Suga mul hõlma helksateli.
Hari põlve puutunekse?
Soaga soen sulase pääda.
Kasin karjalaste päida.
Harin päida armetuilla!

Purjepuu otsimine

Purjepuu otsimine.

üle mina kukun kolme metsa.
Kolm oli metsa kõrvustikku,
Üks oli kulla kuusemetsa,
Teine kallis kas^mesta,
Kolmas õunapuu ilusa.

Kuule, kulla kuusemetsa.
Kas sinust saan ma purjepuida,
Purjepuida, laevalaudu?

Ei minust saa neid purjepuida,
Purjepuida, laevalaudu.
Minust saab neid roikapuida !

Kuule, kulla kasemetsa,
Kas sinust saab neid purjepuida,
Purjepuida, laevalaudu?

Ei minust saa neid purjepuida,
Purjepuida, laevalaudu.
Minust saab neid rattapuida.

Kuule õunapuu ilusa:
Kas sinust saab neid purjepuida,
Purjepuida, laevalaudu?

lah minust saab neid purjepuida,
Purjepuida, laevalaudu !

Vend kadunud

Vend kadunud.

Mul oli kolme vennakesta,
Kolmi kui oa ivada,
Kaks kui herne kaunakesta.
Ühe saatsin karjamaale,
Teise saatsin marjamaale,
Kolmanda Emajõele.

Tuli koju karjamaalta,
Karjapullike eessa.
Tuli koju marjamaalta,
Marjakorvike käessa.
Ei tulnud Emajõelta.
Võtsin sõela rinnastani,
Raha laia kaelastani :
„Sõu#^sõlgi, et sõgeneb,
Lenda lehti, et laguneb."

Ei see solge ei sõnunud
Ega rääkinud see raha.

Läksin venda otsimaie.
Ära otsin oa nurme
Oa nurme, soo nurme.
Otsin otsani kirikud,
Viru käisin viie risti,
Kuru käisin kuue risti.
Harju ristati ajasin,
lärva neljaksi jagasin.

Hobu jõi lüri jõesta.
Maitses Mardi allikasta.
Katsus Kau kacvudesta.
Mis oi' liiri jõessaV
Õlut oli lüri jõessa.
Mis oli Mardi allikassa?
Mõdu oli Mardi allikassa.
Mis oli Kau kaevudessa ?
Kali oli Kau kaevudessa.

Siis ma läksin tükki teeda,
Tüki teeda, marga maada,
Otsin orud, otsin mäed,
Otsin mäed määratumad.

Kes mul vastajc tuleksi?
Tuli vasta päevakene.
Mina päeva teretama :
„Tere ]>äeva, Pärnu saksa,
Sina kõnnid kõrgeessa,
Sina sihid sirgeesti,
Sina vahid valgeesti.
Kas sina nägid minu venda.
Oma vasta tulevada,
lõe poole jõydevada.
Mere poole minevada.
Luise lootsiku secssa
Puise purje keskeella!"

Päeva varsti vastamaie :
„Ei mina näinud sinu venda.
Ei mina näinud, ei minakuulnud!"

Käisin jälle tüki teeda,
Tüki teeda, marga maada
Kes mul vastaje tuleksi ?
Kuu mul vastaje tuleksi.

Mina kuuda teretarha :
„Tere kuu, Kura herra.
Sina kõnnid kõrgeessa.
Sina sihid sirgeesti.
Sina vahid valgeesti.
Kas sa nägid minu venda
Oma vasta tulevada,
lõe poole jõudevada,
Mere p<:iole minevada.
Luise lootsiku seessa.
Puise purju keskeella ?

Kuu see kuulis, kohe kostis:

f
„Ei mina näinud sinu venda,.
Ei mina näinud, ei minakuulnud.

Käisin jälle tüki teeda,
Tüki teeda, marga maada.
Kes mul vastaje tuleksi ?
Tuli tähti täisi meesi.

Mina tähte teretama :
„Tere, tähti, täisi meesi,
Sina kõnnid kõrgeessa.
Sina sihid sirgeesti.
Sina vahid valgeesti.
Kas sa nägid minu venda,
Oma vasta tulevada.
Mere poole minevada,
Luise lootsiku seessa.
Puise purje keskeella?"

,, Mihuke oli sinu venda?"
„Kuuse koorest tal kübara,
Kase koorest kaabukene.
Haava koorest halli mütsi!
Tal oli lootsik luige luusta,
Mõla mõtuse jalasta,
Ajurik hane sulista.
Rüüd oli alla, särk oli [i^alla,
Poe kuube keskeella."

Tähti täisi meesi kostis.
Kurval palgella pajatas:
„Vend läks kalu katsumaie.
Vähki välja võttemaie.
Vesi viinud, kallas katnud.
Sügav haud on augutanud,
Laine lapse lõpetanud.
Kübar jäänud vee elih',
Piif/fQ Pärja jäänud peale vetta,
v Kaabukene kaldaalle."

Päeva nutsin venna pärga.

Kuu nutsin venna kuube,
Aasta vennagi aseda,
Eluaja vennakesta !

Sirge on meressa voogu,
Sirgem oli vennakene,
'alge on meressa vahtu,
Valgem oli vennakene.
Nõnda paistis venna vnrju
Kui see päike taevaassa.
Nõnda paistvad venna pärjad
Kui see kuldne kuu kumab!

Suisa

Suisa.

Läksin metsast luuda tooma,
Tinaluuda'^ee rajalta.
Vaskiluuda vainuulta,
Hõbeluuda õue pealta,
Kuldaluuda kopelista.

Sain sinna Sulevi mäel"',
Sulevi, Kalevi mäele.
Seal seisis Sulevi poega,
Sulevi Kalevi poega.
Küsis muita suisa suuda.
Suisa suud^, kiuste katta.

Mul oli nuga terava,
Alla iiõlma haljas mõõka, *
Suisa lõin Sulevi poega,
Kiuste lõin Kalevi poega,
Läbi ta ihu ilusa,
Läbi ta pale punase.
Läbi ta halli uue kuue.
Läbi ta ruugede juuste.

Ise nuttessa koduje.
Vasta eite, vasta taati,
Vasta need vanad mõlemad.
Eite küsis hellitelles,
Taati targuUa sõnulla :
„Miks sa nutad, tütar noori ?"

Mina mõistsin, kostsin vasta
„Miks ei nuta, eidekene.
Miks ei nuta, taadikene :
Läksin metsast luuda tooma,
Tinaluuda teerajalta,
Vaskiluuda rainuulta,
Hõbeluuda õue pealta,
Kuldaluuda kopelista.
Sain sinna Sulevi mäele,
Sulevi, Kalevi mäel^.
Seal seisis Sulevi poeg,
Sulevi, Kalevi poega,
Küsis muita suisa suuda.
Suisa suuda, kiuste katta.
Suisa lõin Sulevi poega,
Kiuste lõin Kalevi poega
Läbi ta ihu ilusa,
Läbi ta pale punase,
Läbi ta ruugede jiiukste!"

Eite värsi vasta kostis :
„01e terve, neitsikene,
Oma auu hoidemasta.
Suurtel koera surmamasta!"

Ehted riisutud

Ehted riisutud.

Läksin Piipe pead pesema,
Piibe pikale- jõele,
Piibe alla allikaile;
Panin helmed heina peale,
Kee kulla kaare peale
Sõrmuse sõmera peale.
Preesi peene liiva peale.
Tuli haugi aita vetta.
Pääsukene pealta vetta.
Viis mu helmed heina pealt;i,
Kee kulla kaare pealta,

Sõrmuse sõmera pealta.
Preesi peene liiva pealta.
Siis läksin nuttes koduje.

Vasta eite, vasta taati.

Vasta need vanad mõlemad:

„Mis sa nutad, tütar noori?''

„Mis ma nutan, eidekene.

Või mis nutan, taadikene?

Panin helmed heina peale,

Kee kulla kaare peale,

Sõrmuse sõmera peale,

Preesi peene liiva peale.

Tuli haugi aita vetta.

Pääsukene pealta vetta.

Viis mu helmed heina pealta,

Kee kulla kaare pealta,

Sõrmuse sõmera pealta,

Pret'si peene liiva pealta!*
„Ära sina nuta, tütar noori.

Las tuleb kaupmees külasse,

Poepoissi põrmandalle.

Siis ostan helmed heina karva.

Kee kulla kaare karva,

Sõrmuse sõmera karva

Preesi peene liiva karva!"

Haned tapetud

Haned tapetud.

Kmakene, memmekene,
Muile andsid muuda tööda,
Sulastele suurta tööda,
Mulle tööda holbukesta :
Andsid mulle haned hoida,
Haned hoida, kanad kaitsta,
Lestasjalad lepitada,
Varvasjalad vaigistada.
Ajasin haned vesile,
Kecrutin kanad kesale,
Lestasjalad lepikusse,
Varvasjalad vainuulle

Tuli kulli, kurja lindu,
■ Ajas mu haned vesilta,
Ke-erutas kanad kesalta,
Lestasjalad lepikusta,
Varvasjalad vainuulta.
Läksin mina koju kurval meelel,
Ahju ette lialval meelel.
Kes tuli kurba küsimaie?
Ema tuli kurba küsimaie:
„Mis sina. nutad, tütar noori?"
„Mis mina nutan, memmekene?
Tuli kulli, kurja lindu.
Ajas mu haned vesilta,
Keerutas kanad kesalta,
Lestasjalad lepikusta,
Varvasjalad vainuulta."
„01e väita, tütar noori.
Ma saadan orjad otsimaie,
Leivalased leidemaie!"

,, Emakene, memmekene,
Ori ei otsi hanida,
Leivalased ei leia lindu!"
Läksin ise tillukene,

Msöda maad madalakene,
Läksin mõisa välja peale;
Seal oli kümme kündijada,
Üheksa äestajada,
Võtsin kündijalt küsida,
Ä^'stajale teha häälta.
Ei see kündija kõnelend,
Äestaja ei teinud häälta.
Võtsin kündija kübara,
Äestaja hea hobuse,
Siis see kündija kõneles,
Äestaja tegi häälta:
Wine meie mõisaasse.
Seal sinu haned tapetie."
Läksin sinna mõisaasse,
Mis mulle alla annetie ?
Tooli alla annetie,
Minu oma hane luista,
Vadi pääle pööretie
Mu oma hane sullsta
Mis mulle süüa annetie?
Minu oma hane liha.
Mis mulle juua annetie f
Minu oma hane verda!

Harjad murtud

Härjad murtud.

' Ära mina kündsin herra väljad.
Risti, rästi Riia väljad.
Põigiti Põldsamaa orased.
Lasksin härjad lõuneelle,
Lõuneelle laane alla.
Tuli susi soovikusta,
Laiakäppa laane aita,

Õ5

Ära ta murdis musta liärja.
Ära kiskus kirju härja,
Ära sõi härjad mõlemad.

Läksin koju ikkedessa,
Ikkedessa, nuttadessa.
Kesse mulle vasta tuli ?
Vasta eite, vasta taati,
Vasta need vanad mõlemad:
„Mis sa nutad, poega noori?"
„Mis ma nutan, eidekene,
Mis ma nutan, taadikene?
Tuli susi soovikusta,
Laiakäppa laane aita.
Ära ta murdis musta härja,
Ära kiskus kirju härja,
Ära sõi härjad mõlemad."

„Ära sina nuta, poega noori,
Meil on kodu kaksi lehma,
Kirjak lehma, müstik lehma.
Kirjak lehm toob kirju härja,
Müstik lehm toob musta härja,
Kui pole sarvi neil peassa.
Paneme kõrvust kündamaie,
Karvust atra kandamaie.
Sahast sahkapuud vedama."

Hobune varastatud

Hobune varastatud.

Söötsin täkku, jootsin täkku,
Peo peal pidasin täkku.
Ilma eide teadmata,
Taadi kõrva kuulemata.
Täkk sai täide rammusseje.
Läksin saksa saatemaie,

Saatsin saksad Saaremaale,
Isandad Hiiumaale,
Pooled saksad Poolamaale.

Tulin saksa saatemasta,
Leidsin kortsu kõrbe seesta,
Läksin kortsu vaatamaie :
iyiis seal kortsus tehtanekse?
Õlut, viina joodanekse,
Saia sarvi söödanekse.
Otsin toobi, ostsin kaksi.
Hakkan kolraat võttemaie,
Neljata nimetamaie :
Kuulsin mina koera haukumaie.
Mina piitsa plaksutama,
Varas tuli vaarikusta.
Kurja meesi kuusikusta
Viis minu hüva hobuse,
Kümnerublase kübara,
Sajarublase sadula,
Tuhanderublase tubina,
Hõbenupu piitsakese.

Mina nutuga koduje.
Eit tuli vasta, taat tuli vasta.
Kohe minulta küsima:
„Miks sa nutad, poega noori?"
„Miks ei nuta, eidekene.
Miks ei nuta, taadikene :
Söötsin täkku, jootsin täkku.
Saatsin täku täide rammu,
Saatsin saksad Poolamaale,
Täied saksad Türgimaale,
Suured saksad Saaremaale,
Hakkasin koju tulema:
Varas tuli vaarikusta.
Kuri meesi kuusikusta,
Viis minu hüva hobuse,
Kümnerublase kübara,

Sajarublase sadula,
Tuhanderublase tubina,
Hõbenupu piitsakese!"

Isa aga kuulis, vasta kostis:
„Ära sa nuta, poega noori,
Sul on kodu kolme täkku,
Üks aga on sul sõidutäkku,
Teine on sul tallitäkku,
Kolmas on sul kosjatäkku!"

Hobune kadunud

Hobune kadunud.

Istusin ilumäella,
Ilulillede seassa,
llulaaside vahella,
Ilukuusk mul põlve pealla,
Ikikask mul kaenelussa.
Lasksin karja laane alla.
Mis sealt karjast ära kadus ?
Eest kadus isa hobune.
Keskelt memme küüdik lehma,
Vahelt venna varsakene.

Saatsin orja otsimaie.
Vaese lapse vaatamaie,
Ori otsis hooletumalt.
Vaene lapsi vallatumalt.

Õekesed, hellakesed,
Andke mul ohjad kädeje.
Andke päitsed poossegi.
Ise läksin hoosta otsimair,
Kuldakõrvi kuulamaie,
Vajskilakka vaatamaie.
Kas nägite minu hoosta ?

„Mis märki sinu hobune?"
^Linnalakka, lauku laia,
Pea tal pandud pandelasse,
Lakka laia liüerisse,
Silmad siiditnttidesse,
Kulmud kuldakuppudesse,
Kõrvad kõrgi rõngastesse.
Keha kirgu riietesse,
Saba saksa taalderisse.
Homikul orava karva,
Päeval päeva tõusu karva,
Koidikulla kuHa karva.
Videvikul veeru karva,
Lõuneella loh§ karva."

„See läks läbi meie õue.
Läbi neidiste tänava,
Läbi uute uulitsate.
Köis oli kuldane järella.
Kammits kardane jalassa,
See tegi pilla minessagi, ■
Teise pilla tullessagi.
Rikkus rangid, rikkus roomad.
Rikkus raiidase värava,
Pillas pooliku mõduda.
Sõi meil salve rukkiida.
Teise salve odrasida.
Kolmanda kesa nisuda.
Tõmmas meil torre oluta.
Ära korjas kaali lehed,
Ära narris naire lehed,
Sõi meil kallid kapsakesed.
Aisad rikkus aiguteles,
Päitsed peada pööriteles.
Heikis helmine hobune,
Paukus paasine tänava.
Nüüd ta meie aia taga,
Seal ta hirnub heinasida.
Seal ta karjub kaerasida !

Mina kuulsin, kostsin vasta
„Ei ta hirnu heinasida,
Ega karju kaerasida,
Hirnub selga istujada,
Karjub selga kargajada,
Hirnub isandagi alla,
Karjub kaubamehe alla,
See ta ohjel hoietaja, ^

Valjastegi vaadetaja.
Päitsete pähä panija !

Hirnu, halli, hüüa halli
f^ la karju Kalevi kõrvi,

Ho/S4f Kas aeda hallikene.

Kas/ on at'da meeste tehtud,
Või on tüdrukute tehtud,
Meeste aeda metsastagi,
Poiste aeda puudestagi.
Tüdruku tinane aeda.
Naiste aeda naastuline."

Minija

Minija.

Eit saatis poja kosimaie;
Üle soode, üle maade,
Üle viie vikerkaare.
Üle kuue koidu otsa.

Poeg tuli nuttessa koduje,
Haletsedes alla õue.
Pani aga lappi laua peale,
Piirta pika pauna peale,
Kindaad kübara peale.

Kes tuli juurde jutustama,
Suu juurde sõnelema V

Eit tuli juurde jutustama,
Suu juurde sõnelema :
^Miks sa nutad, noorukene,
Miks sa vetta veereteled ?"
„Miks ei nuta, eidekene.
Läksin kosja sõitemaie,
Neiu asjuda ajama.
Oh minu hella fMdekene,
Ei tule naine minule,
Sul on palju tütterida.
Palju palga tahtijada.
Vii tüttared vedeje,
Kanna Anned allikasse,
Kaied küla kaevudesse,
Liisud vii lina liguje,
Mari marja põõsaasse.
Siis tuleb naine minule,
Naine mulle, mini sulle!"
Eit oli hullu uskumaie,
la poja käsku täitemaie,
Pani tütred põlle sisse,
looksis juba vee äärde,
Viiu viskas ta vedeje,
Kaie "küla kaevudesse,
Anne alla allikasse,
Liisu lina ligujegi.
Mari marja põõsaasse.
. Siis saatis poja küsimaie,
Üle soode, üle maade,
Üle viie vikerkaare.
Üle kuue koidu otsa.

Sai see poega koju tulnud.
Eite pojalta küsima.
„Kas tuli tüdruk sinule.
Kas tuli mini minule?"

Poega mõistis, vasta kostis :
Jah tuli tüdruk minule,

la tuli mini sinule !"'

Siis toodi mini tubaje,
Poja naine põrandule,
Pandi kangasta kuduma.
Hõbelõnga loksutama,
Kuldalõnga korrutama,
Valget lõnga vaatamaie.

Poega kuulis, kostis kohe:
„Minu naine natukene,
Pisikene, peenikene,
Õlanukist õhukene.
Käsivarrest väetikene.
Oleks ta pea peerupuusta,
Käsivarred vahtrapuusta,
Õlanukid õunapuiista,
Siis ta kujuks kuldakangast,
Loksutaks sul hõbelõnga!"

Eit pani siiski kudumaie:
Suga hakkas sõimamaie,
Soa laed laimamaie :
„Siia suitsu me sureme,
Palavasse pakatame,
Leitseesse lämmatame!"

Eidel tulid tütred meelde*:
Eks võind Anned alles olla,
Kaied karjassa karata,
Liisud laanes lusti lüüa, '
Marid käia marjullagi.
Teised tütred tööda teha.

Eit läks nuttessa jõele,
Mäletsedes allikale.
Muretsedes muda veele.
„Tul'\ Viiu, tule veesta,
Tule, Kaie karjateelta,
Tule, Anne allikasta,
Tule, Mari marjamaalta.
Tule, Liisu lina liolta,

«o

Tule kangasta kutluma,
Hõbelõnga loksutama,
Kuldalõnga korrutama,
Valget lõnga vaatamaie,
Kangas palub palvoida,
Heidab hellu sõnudagi!"

Tütred mõistsid, kostsid kohe :
„Ei või, ei või, eidekene,
Ei või tõusta, ei või tulla,
Sul on kodu kuldne mini.
Hõbedane poja naine,
Eks ta kuju kuldakangast
Lõksuta sul hõbelõnga.
Eks vii koonal karjamaale,
Teljed teeraja peale.
Kus need karjased kuduvad,
Lambalised laksutavad,
Teopoisid teevad paelal"

Harju Hans

Harju Hans.

Hans oli Harjus mees madala,
Tinatuppe, vöö vägeva.
Ostis Harjusta hobuse, .
Kuningalta kuldapiitsa
Saare saksalta sadula.

Läks siis täkku sõidutama,
Täku jalgu katsumaie,
Sälu sääri seletama :
Täkku eessa kui see tähti,
Ise pealla kui see päeva.
Saksa saapaad jalassa,
Kuningate kuube seljas.
Vöö vöölta Riia ristis,

HS

Kübar peas kiriku kirja.
Kuhu läheb, taevas läigib,
Kus ta kõnnib, taevas kõigub.
Kus ta täkku sõiduteleb,
Sinna soo sõiduteleb,
Kus ta täkku tantsitcleb,
Sinna tantsitab tänava.
Kus ta täkku mängiteleb,
Sinna mäe mängiteleb.
Kus ta täkku keeruteleb,
Sinna keerutab kiriku.
Sõitis -Soome silda mööda,
Kuramaa mägesid mööda.
Kura mäed kumasivad,
Soome silda raksus vasta,
Aluspalgid paukusivad.

Viru neiud vaatasivad,
Turu tijtarlapsed laulsid:
„01eks see meesi meie ]>äralt.
Oleks see kaasa kanadella.
Kes seal sõidab silda mööda,
Kuramaa mägesid mööda.
Täkku alla nii kui tähti.
Ise pealla nii kui päeva,
KiJbar peas kiriku kirja,
Vöö vöölla Riia kirja.
Me seisaks suve söömatagi, .
Aasta ilma ivatagi.
Talve tangu tahtemata ! ■

Teenistuse palk

Teenistuse palk.

Teenisin mina peremeest,
Peremeest ja tark;i meest,
Kuningat ja kuulust meest.
Mis mul palgaks paisatie?
Lammas kahe tallega;
Ei mina leppind sellega.

Teenisin mina peremeest,
Peremeest ja tarka meest.
Kuningat ja kuulust meest.
Mis mul palgaks paisatie?
Siga seitsme põrsaga ;
Ei mina leppind sellega.

Teenisin mina peremeest.
Peremeest ja tarka moest,
Kuningat ja kuulust meest.
Mis mul palgaks paisatie?
Vana ruuna, rangikaela;
Ei mina leppind sellega.

Teenisin mina peremeest.
Peremeest ja tarka meest,
Kuningat ja kuulust meest.
Mis mul palgaks paisatie?
Kinkis võrgud, kinkis vened;
Ei mina leppind sellega.

Teenisin mina peremeest.
Peremeest ja tarka meest.
Kuningat ja kuulust meest.
Mis mul palgaks paisatie?
Kinkis noodad, kinkis naarad ;
Ei mina leppind sellega.

Teenisin mina peremeest,
Peremeest ja tarka meest.
Kuningat ja kuulust meost.

<:9

Mis mul palgaks paisatie?
Kinkis .paadid, kinkis purjed;
Ei mina leppind sellega.

Teenisin mina peremeest,
Peremeest ja tarka meest,
Kuningat ja kuulust merst.
Mis mul palgaks paisatie?
Kinkis Soomed, kinkis Saared;
Ei mina leppind sellega.

Teenisin mina peremeest.
Peremeest ja tarka meest.
Kuningat ja kuulust meest.
Mis mnl palgaks paisatie?
Kinkis sõud Soomemaalta,
Airud aadlari (?) majasta;
Ei mina leppind sellega.

Teenisin mina peremeest,
Peremeest ja tarka meest,
Kuningat ja kuulust meest.
Mis mul palgaks paisatie?
Kirik kihelkonnaga;
Ei mina leppind sellega.

Teenisin mina peremeest.
Peremeest ja tarka meest
Kuningat ja kuulust meest.
Mis mul palgaks paisatie?
Koiga mõisad vallagagi ;
Ei mina leppind sellega.

Teenisin mina peremeest,
Peremeest ja tarka meest,
Kuningat ja kuulust meest.
Mis mul palgaks paisatie?
Tallinn Tartu rajadeni,
Soome maalta suured linnad;
Ei mina leppind sellega.

Teenisin mina peremeest.

Peremeest ja tarka meest,
Kuningat ja kuulust meest.
Mis mul palgaks paisatie?
Kuninga ja kuningriiki ;
Ei mina leppind sellega !

Teenisin mina peremeest,
Peremeest ja tarka meest,
Kuningat ja kuulust meest.
Mis m"ul palgaks paisatie?
Neiu noori, kuldakarla,
Kulda majariistadega.

Jah mina lepin sellega,
See neiu minu omane!

Sepal

Sepal.

Ann OÜ armas neitsikene,
Poola poisi pruudikene,
Läks aga lusti laskemale
Väljale kivivarele,
Kivi kildude segajc.

Katki helmed, katki pauad.
Katki kallid kaelarahad
Katki kee keeruline,
Rublatükid roosilised.
Katki sõrmus sõrmessagi,
Teine teisesta käesta.

Ann laksi Kura sepale :
„Kura sepp, mu kullakene.
Võta mu paater parandada,
Hõbehelmed õiendada,
Risti kannad kaunistada,
looda kee keeruline,
Rublatükid roosilised!"

Sepp siis kuulis, kohe kostis
„Ei ole mina helmeseppa
Ega mina ole paaterseppa,
Ma olen selge rauaseppa!"

Ann laksi Viru sepale :
„Viru sepp, mu vennakene,
Võta mu paater parandada,
Hõbehelmed õiendada,
Ristikannad kaunistada,
looda kee keeruline,
Rublatükid roosilised!"

Seppa kuulis, kohe kostis :
„Neitsikene noorukene,
Kui tuled minu pojale,
Siis võtan pauad parandada,
loodan kerd keerulised,
Rublatükid roosilised!"

Anne kunlis, kohe kostis :
„Ei tule mina sinule.
Ei tule sinu pojale,
Sepa naene lõõtsa nahka,
Tahmased taguja lapsed.
Seppa ise ilma musta.
Sepa tütred tuletukid.
Seppa ise hirnateleb.
Sepa naine naerateleb!"

Imetegija

Imetegija.

Läksin vennalt maada saama,
Sulamaada, söödimaada.
Natukese nairemaada.
Pisut peenarte alusta.

Venda vastu vaidlemaie,
Tinarinda riidflema:
„Mis teeb õdr õuemaaga,
Põlleline põllumaaga,
Neiukene nairemaaga,
Tanuline tatramaaga!"

„Minu hella vennakene,^
Anna üksi adratäisi,
Jaga härja jälje täisi.
Kus mina külvan köSmenida,
Talutelen tattarida,
Ette külvan herneida,
Kõrva pillan [)ipparaida."

Sain ma tüki tühja maada,
JRaasukese raibet maada,
Paalukese paljast maada,
Mäe männiku tagusta,
Kuiva kuusiku alusta.

Seda mina kündsin küüntellani,
Äestasin varvastega,
Sinna ma külvasin sineda.
Sinna ma puistasin puneda,
Sini kasvas suuri, puna paksu,
Puna põlve kõrguseni.

Läksin sinet lõikamaie.
Ei saand sirpi siita maalta,
Sirpi ei siita rahvaasta.

Mina venna palveelle :
„Minu hella vennakene.
Anna alla hallikene,
Käe kõrva kõrvi ruuna.
Sõidan sepale Virusse,
Tagujale lärvamaale
Kuldseid käärisid küsima,
Hõbedasi piiriraudu, ,
Vasksed pärad tahaje,

Otsa joodetud hõbedad,
Miska piiran pipparaida,
Tasutelen tattarida!"

Sõitsin sepale Virusse,
Tagujale lärvamaale,
Sepa koera haukumaie,
Sepa naine naeramaie:
„Sealt tuleb minu minija,
Astub ainu poja naine!"

„Ei, ei, ei, ei, eidekene.
Ei tule sinu minija,
Astu sinu poja naine,
Ma olen kulla kuuse naine,
Mäe männiku minija.
Kase kalli kasvandikku,
Haava halli ümardaja.
Kas sinu poeg on, eidekene,
Kas sinu poeg on seegi meesi,
Kes teeb sirpisid tinasta,
Valab hambaida vasesta?"

Küll minu p'ieg on seegi meesi,
Kes teeneb tule meresse,
Lõõtsub lõkke laineesse.
Kisub piirgusid kivista,
Lõhub laudasid lumesta,
See sõlmib munasse sõlme,
Aganast see keerab köie.
Viskab otsa taevaasse,
Teise Jordani jõgeje"

Tuba tuules

Tuba tuules.

Lfisksin ma lagle vedeje,
Hakkasin hani ujuma,
Piki merda, jiõiki merda,
Kuu valulla, öö valulla,
Taeva tähtede valulla.

Lapi merda sõitsid laevad,
Põiki merd käis põhjatuuli,
Sain ju suure saare äjtrde,
Saare nurka istumaie.
Seal oli saarel kolme metsa,
Kuldne oli kuusemetsa,
Hõbedane männimetsa,
Kardanegi kasiemetsa.
Kuused kuldada kumavad.
Haavad vaskeda valavad.
Kased karda haljendavad,
Männad mähka oksendavad,
Lepad tilguvad tinada.

Siis hakkan aru pidamaie,
Mis pean mina tegema?
Tegin toa tuule peale,
Elu heinakaare peale,
Sauna saare^ juure peale,
K'»ja kobru lehe ])eale.
Seest oli siidiga seotud.
Pealt oli pandud pandalasse.
Lagi löödud lõuendilla,
Katused kalanahasta,
Harja hanesuleline.
Riia poolt oli ristiline.
Narva poolt oli naastuline,
Kuu poolt oli kulla karva,
Päeva poolta pärli karva,
Eemalta hõbeda karva.
Kuu mnlle kumamas kojasta,

Taevas aita akenasta,
Tähed sängije säravad,
Kui tuleb tuuli, siis heliseb,
Paistab päeva, paisub pealta.

Mööda sõitsid müügi saksad,
Ligi linna laada saksad,
Iga reede Riia saksad,
Saksad minulta küsima :
„Kas on rikas Riia linna,
Või on tarka Talina linna.
Või on suuri soola linna.
Või on päris Pärnu linna?"

Mina aga mõistsin, vasta kostsin
„See pole rikas Riialinna,
See pole tarka Talina linna,
Ei ka suuri soola linna.
Ei ka päris Pärnu linna,
See on tilluke toake.
Vaeste laste varjupaika.
Seest on siidilla seotud,
Pealt on kullalla kujutud,
Ahi on tehtud angerjasta,
Põrand tehtud põlledesta.
Lõugas lõhe lõualuista,
Ulualune ubadest!"

Ristitud mets

Ristitud mets.

Udres, Kudres poisikene,
Udres, Kudres kuu sulane,
Kuu sulane, päeva poega,
Magasid salu seessa.
Meie metsade vahella.
Siis liakkas salu hävinema.

Meie metsa kuivamaie,
Aita salu hallitama,
Pealta salu pälvitama,
Seesta salu seenetama.
Käod jäid pealta kukkumasta,
Sirgud seesta laulamasta,
Härjad jäid aita ammumasta,
Orav otsast elamasta.
Kaikumast mere kajakad,
Mere hiilged hüüdemasta.

Kust saab metsa ristijada,
Ristijada, kastajada,
Salu pika piifajada.
Lehe laia lõikajada?
Otsitie ristijada,
Ristijada, kastajada.
Toodi papid Paideesta,
Kösterid üle kiriku,
Meisterid üle merede,
Meie metsa ristimaie,
Ristimaie, kastemaie.
Salu pikka piiramaie.

Ristitie, kastetie,
Üheksalla (ünaalla,
Ühe lamba poegadella ;
Ei saanud salu sinamaie,
Meie metsa lehtendama,
Rohi maasta tõusemaie.
Käod sisse kukkumaie.
Ristitie meie metsa,
Ristitie,- kastetie,
Üheksalla sõnnillagi,
Ühe lehma poegadella,
Ei saanud salu sinamaie,
Meie metsa lehtendama,
Rohi maasta tõusemaie.
Käod sisse kukkumaie.

Ristitie meie metsa,
Ristitie, kastetie,
Ühe neiduse nimella,
Ühe naise tütterella.
Siis hakkas salu sigimaie,
Salu põõsas kasvamaie,
Sirgud sisse laulamaie,
Käod peale kukkumaie,
Orav otsa elamaie,
Kaikuma mere kajakad,
Mere hülged hüüdemaie.

Ori taevas

Ori taevas.

ükski ärgu öelgu mulle,
Teine teisele kõnelgu.
Kuidas orjas oldanekse,
Vaese vaeva nähtanekse.
Ise mõistan orja hoole,
Orja hoole, vaese vaeva.
Ori peab hoolik olema.
Vara tõusma vaene lapsi,
Vara tõusma, vait olema,
Suuda kinni pidamaie.
Peab puhkama pisuta,
Vähe unda veeretama.

Ei sina tea ega mõista,
Kussa ori uned uinub :
Suures soos, laias laanes,
Suure soo keskeella.
Laia laane vahellagi,
Peenar pikka istepenki,
Sööti suuri söögilauda,
Mätas märga })eaalune.

Kesse orja äratasi,
Vaese üles virgutas! :
Lendas ligi linnukene,
Tuli tuike tilluke,
Kägu lendas käe peale,
Suvilindu suu peale :
„Tõuse üles, orjakene,
Tõuse üles hommikule.
Pese silmi, soe peada,
Pese suu sulahõbella.
Käed kulla kasteella ;
Mine merelt vetta tooma.
Kaugelta vesi vedada,
Vasta mäge mäele' tuna!"

Ori läks merelt vetta tooma.
Kesse talle vasta tuleb ?
Maarja talle vasta tuleb.
Maarja kohe küsimaie :
„Orjakene, omakene,
Kellel viid vee paari '?"

«Perenaisel leiba teha,
Perepojal pesta suuda,
Peremehel kirvest ikastj"/<'<a^^7^

„Orjakt'ne, omakene,
Vii see vesi taressegi.
Pane pangg^ põrandule, ^

Ütle sa peremehele.
Perenaisele pajata :
Viimane vesi taresse,
Viimane pirgu pihisse,
Ma laen ära taevaasse,
Ma laen Maarja lasta hoidma!"

Tuli aga kaksi ingelida.
Võtsid see orja õlale,
Käänsid orja käte peale,
Viisid orja taevaasse,

7õ

Maarja kambrite lävele,
Looja suure ukse suhu.

Ori seal linki liiguteli,
Raudarampi raputeli.
Maarja kambrista kõneleb :
„Kes seal linki liiguteleb,
Raudarampi raputeleb ?"

Ori kuulis, kohe kostis:
„Ori linki liiguteleb,
Raudarampi raputeleb."

Maarja kuulis, kohe kostis :
„Tule sisse, orjakene,
Istu kuldatooli peale,
Kuldatooli, hõbeõrre.
Sa said maalla küllalt kurta.
Küllalt kurta, küllalt nutta!"

Anti kätte saia tükki :
„Söö saia, orjakene!
Küll said maalla nälga näha!'

Toodi kätte õlle toopi:
„Joo õlut, orjakene !
Küll said maalla vetta juua!"

Kesse tuleb orja parra?
Peremees parra tuleksi.
Küünarpuu pikka peossa,
Perenaine tagapärra,
Kangapakki kaenalussa.
„Tule ori, võtta oma.
Tule vaene, võta vaeva,
Suiline suurta tööda.
Päevaline päeva palka!"

Orja kamberist kõneles:
„Pea ise, peremeesi.
Pea ise, perenaine,
Kanna oma kalevida,

Pea oma peeni hame,

riuba Maarja mulle maksis,

Taevas tasusi minule !

Ei ma taha tasu taevas,

Kui sa ei maksnud sealla maalla,

Kui mu pihta piinatie.

Käsivarsi vaevatie,

Kui mu küüned külmetasid.

Sõrme otsad sõitelisid.

Maarja kamberist kõneles:
„Tule sisse, peremeesi.
Tule sisse, perenaine !
Annetaks tuline tooli :
„Istu tnldatooli peale,
Tuldatooli tõrvatõrde!"

Toodi kätte tuletoopi.
loo tulda, tõmma tõrva.
Seni kui pada parandakse.
Seni kui katelt katsutakse
Halg alla lõhutakse!"

„Ei sa maksnud orja vaeva.
Ei sa maksnud pealla maada.
Ega annud alla taeva,
Nüüd sa keed katelassa,
Nüüd sa põled prirguussa !"

Jahvatav neiu

Jahvatav neiu.

Tõusin vara hommikulJa,
Vara enne valgeeda.
Pesin palged, pead sugesin,
Kingad jalga kinnitasin,
Tööda tõttasin tegema,

Kivi oli toodud Küevista,
Kivipooled Poolamaalta,
Kivipostid Venemaalta,
Ajas järgest jalivatania,
Ajas kivi kiskumaie.
Läksin lapsi jahvamaie,
Läksin kivi kiskumaie.
Kivi kojassa kumises,
Jahvatasin juhmikene,
Jahvatasin kamberissa,
Keerutasin külmas keldris.
Kes mul lävele lähenes,
Kesse astus aknaalle?
Venda lävele lähenes,
Venda astus aknaalle:
„Iahva, õde, laula lapsi, ^
Annan sulle anniks aida.
Täidan veereni viljaga!"

Jahvatasin juhmikene,
Laulsin ise jahvatades,
Kaasitasin külmas keldris.
Kesse lävele lähenes,
Kesse astus aknaalle?

Ema lävele lähenes.
Ema astus aknaalle :
„Jahva, lütar, laula lapsi,
Mida annan laulmisesta?
Lamba annan laulmisesta,
Lehma kingin lugudesta!"

Jahvatasin juhmikene,
Kaasitasin kamberissa,
Kolistasin külmas keldris.
K^sse lävele lähenes,
Isa astus aknaalle ?
„Jahva tütar, laula tütar.
Mis sul jagan jahvamisest?
Jahvamisest, laulamisest?

7S

Annan sulle tubli täku,
Kingin uhkema hobuse."
lahvatasin juhmikene,
Kaasitasin kamberissa,
Kolistasin külmas keldris.
Kesse lävele lähenes,
Kesse astus aknaalle?
Õde lävele lähenes,
Õde astus aknaalle:
„.Iahva, õde, laula, õde.
Kisu kiirelt käsikiva,
Sulle antaks suuri sõlgi,
Kingitakse kaelakate."

Jahvatasin ,juhmikene,
Kaasitasin külmas keldris.
Kesse lävele lähenes.
Kesse astus aknaalle?

Venna naine linnukene,
Venna kaasa kallikene:
„Ära jahva, juhmikene.
Ära laula, lapsukene!
Ei sul isa anna aita.
Ega ema kingi lehma.
Õde ei anna suurta solge,
Ega venda viljatera."

Ei mina hoolind hoiatusest,
Ega uskunud ütlemisi.

'^Jahvatasin kamberissa,
Kolistasin külmas keldris.
Kesse lävele lähenes.
Kesse astus aknaalle?

Venna naine hüüdemaie,
Venna kaasa kutsumaie :
Tule tuppa, tuikene.
Karga kambri, kallikene,
Sulle kosjad koju tulid.
Au sul lävele lähenes."

Sain ma neiu mehe naisek?,
'Jahvataja kodukanaks.
Tulin kuju mehe kojast,
Hakkasin aralt küsima:
,, Õekene hellakene,
Kas veel meeles, mida ütlid,
Mida muiste tõotasid?
Kas saan rinda suure sõle,
Kas saan kaela kauni katte?"
„Õde, hella linnukene,
Ei ma anna ega luba!"

Mina vennalt küsimaie:
„Vennakene, kallikene.
Kas veel meeles, mida ütlid?
Kas saan vilja, kas saan aida?"

„Õde hella linnukene.
Ei ma anna ega tõota."

Kohe emalt küsimaie:
„Emakene, hellakene.
Lehma töö eest tõotasid.
Lamba laulmisest lubasid?"

„Tütrekene, tillukeno.
Ei ma anna ega tõota." '

K<»he isalt küsimaie :
„Isakene, hellakene,
Too kätte töötud täkku,
Anna kätte uhke hobu!"

,,Tütrekenr, tillukene.
Ei ma anna ega tõota."

Venna naine linnukene,
Ära kuulis, kostis kohe:
„Õekene, hellakene.
See sai sulle, mis sai mulle,
See sai meile mõlemile.
See saab igale ühele.
Ega isa anna hoosta,
Ega ema anna lehma,
Ega õde suurta solge.

Lunastetav neiu

Lunastetav neiu.

Ann oli ahti^ Poola tahti,
Ann läks aita chtimaie,
Aita peada sugcmaie,
Siis läks jõesta vctta tooma.
Tulid vasta laevamehed,
Anne viisid veneesse,

Ann hakkas laevas nuttemaie,
Laevamehi palumaie:
„Kulla kallid laevamehed,
Pika purje poisikesed,
Laseme laeva liikudagi,
Nii kui kätki kiikudagi,
Laseme laeva maale Jõuda,
Maale jõuda, maale sõuda,
Laskt' mind korra koju minna,
Mul on kodu vana ema,
Emal kolmi kirstukesta.
Üks on kirstu kuldakirstu,
Teine kirstu hõbekirstu.
Kolmas kirstu vaskikirstu.
Ehk annab ühe minu eesta.
Lunastab mind laeva seesta."

Ema kuulis, vasta kostis:
«Ennem mina annan Annekese
Kui mina annan kirstukese!"

Ann oli õrna nuttemaie,
Kapten õrna naeramaie.
Ann siis hakkas ütlemaie:
„Kulla kallid laevamehed,
Pika purje poisikesed,
Laseme laeva liikudagi,
Nii kui kätki kiikudagi.
Ehk saame Riia linna alla,
Seal on minul isakene.
Isal kolmi aidakesta,

üks on aita kuldaaita,
Teine aita hõbfaita,
Kolmas aita vaskiaita.
Ehk annab ühe mmu eesta,
Lunastab mind laeva seesta.*"

Isa kuulis, kostis kohe:
„Enne mina annan Annekest^
Kui mina annan aidakese.
Aita on mul eluajaks,
Ann;e.aga iirikeseks!"

Ann oli õrna nuttemaie,
Kapten õrna naeramaie.
Ann siis hakkas ütlemaie:
„Kulla kallid laevamehed,
Pika purje poisikesed,
Laseme laeva liikudagi,
Nii kui kätki kiikudagi,
Ehk saame Riia linna alla.
Seal on mul üks vennakeni
yennal kolmi heada hoosta,
Üks on täkku kuldalakka,
Teine täkku hõbelakka.
Kolmas täkku vaskilakka.
Ehk annab ühe minu eesta,
Lunastab mind laeva seesta."

Wenda kuulis, kostis kohe:
„Enne mina annan Annekesc,
Enne kui oma hobuse! .
Hobu on mul eluajaks,
Anne aga ürikeseks!"

Ann oli õrna nuttemaie.
Kapten õrna naeramaie.
Ann siis- hakkas ütlemaie:
„Kuira kallid laevamehed.
Pika purje poisikesed,
Laseme laeva liikudagi.
Nii kui kätki kiikudagi.

Ehk saan>e Riia linna alla,
Seal on minul õekene,
Õella kolmi heada tekki.
Üks on tekki kuldakirja,
Teine tekki hõbekirja.
Kolmas tekki vaskikirja.
Ehk annab ühe minu ecsta,
Lunastab mind laeva seesta!"

Õde kuulis, kostis kohe:
„Enne mina annan Annekese,
Enne kui oma tekikese.
Tekki on mul eluajaks,
Anne aga ürikeseks!"

Ann oli õrna 'nuttemaie,
Kapten õrna naeramaie.
Ann siis hakkas ütlemaie:
„Kiilla kallid laevamehed,
Pika purje poisikesed.
Laseme laeva liikudagi,
Nii kui kätki kiikudagi,
Ehk saame Riia linna alla.
Seal on minul peiukene.
Peiul kolmi laevukesta.
Üks on laeva kuldalaeva.
Teine laeva hõbelaeva.
Kolmas laeva vaskilaeva.
Ehk annab ühe minu eesta,
Lunastab mind laeva seesta."

Peiu kuulis, kostis kohe :
„Enne mina annan kuldalaeva,
Enne kui annan Annekese.
Anne on mul eluajaks,
Laeva aga ürikeseks!"

Ann oli õrna naerartiaie.
Kapten õrna nuttemaie !

Soda

Sõda.

Vares vaga linnukene
Piilus niei<' pihlakassa,
Õõtsus meie õunapuussa,
Pea oli päeva tõusu poole,
Saba Sandri mõisa poole,
See tõi sõjasõnumida,
Seep see kandis vaenukeeli.

Kesse meilta sõtta läheb
Kas laeb isa või liieb ema.
Kas laeb kõige noorem poega.
Kas laeb väimees verlnikone?
Ei läe isa, ei läe ema,
Isa vana, ema vana.
Isa halli ahju pealla,
Õde õrna kätkiessa,
See tahab piimalla pidada,
Noorel koorel kasvatada.
Lehma võilla võõrutada.
Väimees seitsme seina taga,
Kaheksamassa kamberissa,
Üheksama ukse taga.
Kus ei kuule kuke häälta.
Nõdra lapse nutu häälta.

Noorem vend peab minemaie
Sõtta veli sõitemaie.

Veli läks aita ehtimaie.
Ema aita õpetama,
Õpetama, ikkemaie.
Naine kõrva nuttemaie:
„Pojukene, poisikene.
Aja selga sõjahame.
Pane jalga sõjasukad.
Aja selga sõjasärki.
Alla karvane kasukas.
Kui sa sõidad sõjateeda,

Ära mine sõja ettr,
Eessa on tuli punane.
Ära sõida sõja taga,
Taga suitsn on sinine,
Keeruta keseda sõda,
Ligi lipukandijada.
Esimesed helbitakse,
Tagumised tapetakse,
Keskmised koju tulevad.
Kui sa hakkad tulemaie.
Ära tule mere kaudu,
Meri on täisi meeste päida,
Ära tule Narva kaudu,
Narva on täisi naiste päida,
Ära tule Koivit kaudu,
K<^iva '»n täisi koolupäida.
Tule sa kohe koduje.
Tule oma tehtud teeda,
Kust on isa enne käinud,
Enne käinud, jäljed jätnud."

Vend läks sõitessa sõdaje,
Peada väänates vägeje.

Oli aga sõjas seitse suve.
Tuli koju kaheksandal.
Hobu alla kui see ahju
Meesi päälla kui see päeva.
Kübar kui kiriku kella,
Vöö kui linna lipurihma,
Pea pealta paksu meesa.
Jalad aita harva meesa.

Sõitis isa õue peale :
„Tule välja, isakene,
Tule välja, tunne meesta!"

Tuli isa, ei tunnud poega:
„Vene mees. Vene hobune,
Vene piitsake |)eossa.
Vene saapaad jalassa,

Vene kantsik kaenalussa,
Vene kindaad käessa,
Vene kirjad kinnastessa."

Sõitis ema ukse ette :
„Tule välja, emakene,
Tule välja, tnnne meesta!"

Ema ttili, ei tunnud meesta :
„Vi'no mees, Vene hobune,
Vene piitsake peossa,
Vene saapaad jalassa,
Vene kantsik kaenalussa.
Vene kindaad käessa.
Vene kirjad kinnastessa !"

Sõitis venna ukse ette:
,,Tule välja, vennakene,
Tule välja, tunne venda !"

Venda tuli, ei tunnud venda:
„Vene mees, Vene hobune,
Vene piitsake peossa,
Vene saapaad jalassa.
Vene kantsik kaenalussa,
Vene kindaad käessa.
Vene kirjad kinnastessa!',

Sõitis õe ukse ette :
„Tule välja, õekene,
Tule välja, tunne venda!"

Õde tuli, ei tunnud venda :
,,Vene mees. Vene hobune,
Vene piitsake peossa.
Vene saapaad jalassa
Vene kantsik kaenalussa.
Vene kindaad käessa,
Vene kirjad kinnastessa!"

Sõitis naise ukse ette:
„Tule välja, naisukene.
Tule välja, tunne meesta!"

S6

Tuli naine, tundis mehe:
„Oma mees, Vene hobun<',
Oma kootud kuuekene,
Oma tehtud tekikene,
Oma pandud pambukene,
Oma kindaad käessa,
Oma kirjad kinnastessa.

„Tule tuppa, vmnikene,
Tuie tuppa teretama!"

., Kulda naine, kallis naine.
Võta võttemed võrelta,
Kõver konksu lae vahelt.
Siis aga astu aida poole.
Too sealt vaipa yarna (.tsast.
Kirju tekki krrstu kaanelt,
Püiii hobune higista.
Mõse mõõkagi veresta,
Pese saapaad põrista.
Siis vast hakkan rääknnaie.
Sõja sõnu sõnnmaie!"

Viidi venda vihtlemaie,
Vihtlemaie, pesemaie.

,,Aia nüüd meile sõjajuttu.
Kuidas sõjas sõditakse
Või seal Rootsi raiutakse,
Riia alla reisitakse.
Kas on sõjas naine armas, ^^
Naine armas, kaasa kallis?"

„Ei, ei, ei, ei eidekene,
Ei," ei, ei, ei isakene.
Ei, ei, ei, ei õekene.
Ei ole sõjas naine armas.
Naine armas, kaasa kallis,
Sõjas armas haljas mõõka,
Kallis kangepea hobune.

See piiästab mehe sõjasta.
Mehe poja Poolamaalta,

Mehe venna Venemaalta.

Nõnda sõjas mehe verda
Kui meie meressa vetta,
Nõnda sõjas mees"te päida
Kui on soossa mättaaida,
Nõnda sõjas sõrmeluida
Kui on roogu luharannal,
Nõnda sõjas sääreluida
Kui on haikusid pinussa."

Tooma laul

Tooma laul.

Toomas tore, mees madala,
Tõotas naiseta elada,
Ilma naiseta kasuda.
Sai elama, sai olema,
Ei võind naiseta elada
Ega kaasata kasuda.
Tahtis puusta teha naise,
Tar\ipakust teise poole,
Panna kulda palgeeksi.
Hõbedat ea iluksi,
Ei aga kulda püsind palgel
Hõbe ei püsind ea iluks.
Sulas ära soolast süües.
Põles ära patta pannes.

Toomas tore, mees madala.
Läks aga kottu kosja teele.
Natukeseks neiu teele,
Kosis kaasa kolmes päevas.
Võttis viiessa nädalis.
Võttis Riiast rikka tütre,
Tartu takka targa tütre.

Seni aga oli naine armas.
Naine armas, kaasa kallis.

^3

Kui sai sülle sületäie,
Käte peale käsilise;
Hakkas naista iiarriniaie,
Teista poolta togimaie.

Toomas tore, mees madala.
Ei enam mõtle muuda juttu.
Teist ei kõneda kõnele :
,.Kuhu panen vana naise.
Kuhu tõukan teise poole!"

Musta meesi mujalt tuli,
Kuri kohe õpetama:
„Sinna pane vana naine-.
Sinna tõuka teine pooli :
Saada marita tooma mahla,
Mahla kaselt, mahla vahtralt,
Kaeva kase alla hauda,
Sülda seitsegi sügava.
Küünart kümme kaeva laia,
Okstel kata hoolikasti.
Mätastega mõnusasti,
Et ei märka meeli hauda.
Meeli hauda, silm sügavust.
Ise heida voodiesse,
Peada pane patjadele.
Hakka mahla nõudemaie,
Vahtra vetta tahtemaie."

Toomas tore, mees madala,
Täkkis kase kaasikussa.
Vahtra nõo nõlva pealla,
Pani alla kuldapüti,
Kuldapüti, vaskipaadi.
Ise aga heitis õlgedele.
Puhkama pani padjule.
Hakkas mahla nõudemaie.
Vahtra vetta tahtemaie.

Naisukene noorukene.
Varsti vasta vaidlemaie :

„iV\eilla talus vastne taari,
Magus mõdu kaljaastjas!"

Toomas tore, mees madala,
Omalt poi 'leita pajatas:
„Ei ma taha teie taari
Ega ihka meie mõdu;
Mine kasele mäele,
Vahtravetta võttemai»-!"

Naisukene noorukene
Tahtis täita m(>he meelta,
Käia kaasa käsku mööda,
Minna mahla mäelta tooma,
Vahtravetta koju kandma.

Läks aga aita elitimaie,
Paatrit põuele pan«'ma.
Kirstu kirju külU' peale,
Vaka valge veere peale.
Leidis ehted ikkemassa,.
Paatrid palju nuttemassa.
Naine noori nõudemaie.
Kaasa kohe küsimaie :
„Mida ikked, ehtekene,
Mida nutad, nupukene?"

Seda ikken, naisukene,
Kaeban, kallis kaasakene,
Ei jää meile selgasäädjat,
Ei jää pealepanijada !

Naine noori vastamaie:
„Ära nuta, ehtekene,
Leinavad mind kaksi lasta,
Kaksi kahju kandajada.
Küllap need sinda küsivad,
Selga sinda säädivadki."

Läks aga naine minemaie,
Enne isalta küsima :
,,Ütle. tarka taadikene.

Toomas õhkab õlgodella,
Puhkab voodissa pikali,
Tallab mahlada mäelta,
Vahtravetta kaasikusta.
Kas pean nüüd mina minema,
Magust mahla muretsema?"

.,Mine. mine, minijake,
Mine mehe meelta mööda.
Käi kaasa käsku mööda."

Naine küsima emalta :
,, Emakene hellakene.
Kas pean mäele minema,
Magust mahla muretsema?

.,Mine, mi;ie, minijake.
Mine mehe meelta mööda,
Käi kaasa käsku mööda !■•

„Emakene hellakene.
Kui ma kaon kaseteele.
Maha jäävad vaesed lapsed,
Kaksi kahju kandajada.
Hoia mu ematuid lapsi,
Varja minu vaeseid lapsi."

Emakene ütlemaie :
„Mine aga mine, mu minija.
Käi, käi, käsknjalga.
Küll su vaeseid valvatakse.
Küll su kahte kasvatakse
Pehme pesa pingi alla.
Lämmi tuba läve alla ;
Luuda saavad liha juurest,
Kalapeada kala kõrvalt!"

Läks aga naine mahla mäele,
Varikusse vahtraveele.
Küdi künnilta kõneles.
Nadu karja kaitsemasta :
„Ära mine sa, minija,

Ära veere venna naine.
Sinna sued ju salgas läksid,
Karud karjana kadusid,
Viis läks valda varosida.
Kaksi parve karnaaida,
Kõik need veervad su verele,
Kokku saagile koguvad!"

Naisukene noorukene,
Ei see hoolind hoiatusest,
Ega küsind keelamisest,
Läks aga mahlaK' mäele,
Kuldapütist püüdemaie,
Vaskivaadista valama.
Kuulis soostaJt£Solina, '^^ot
Pilliroustagi rabina,
Välja veeres musta meesi.
Musta meesi, põrgupoissi.
Kirves mürgine mürises.
Värsi vaskine vabises.
Hääli äkino käritas :
„Pane pea paku peale,
Hellad juuksed hirre peale!"

Tsirku laulis lepaladvas,
Sinilindu kase kõrval.
Naene tsirku palumaie :
«Sinitiiva tsirgukene,
Vahajalga varbelane,
Vii aga teada vendadele,
Anna teada armsatele,
Kanna kuulda mu kodult' :
Siia naine surmatakse,
Vaga veri valatakse!"

Sinitiiva tsirgukene,
Vahajalga varbelane
Viis aga teada vendadele,
Andis teada armsatele.
Kandis kuuldaj^ kodule.
1>2 y'

Kottu tuli kohe taati,
Veeres viisi vennakesta,
Tegid tule tänavasse,
Suure valge vainu peale,
Viisid Toomaa tulesse,
Panid poisi palavasse,
Kaksi jalga kammitsasse,
Viisi sõrme sidemesse.

Toomas tulesta kõneles,
l*alawasta pajataski :
„Kuulge, kuulge noored mehed,
Kuulge koiga kosilased,
Ärge tehke sarnast tegu
Kui mina meeletu tegin:
Saatsin surm'a noore naise,
Hukka oma teise poole !
Võtke naine kõigeks eaks,
Hellakene eiupäiwiks,
Ikka elage ilusti.
Kasiipõli kauniisti !

Mai

Mai.

Maie Torma neitsikene,
Sõitis Torma teeda mööda,
Hõlg oli suussa. pärg oli peassa.
Hane leht oli harnbaassa.
VaskipõUe varbaassa.

'Jüri Torma poisikene.
Tormas Tormastu mäele,
KullaÖt karbis kumisesid,
Helmed helksid mõõga peassa.
Jüri läks naista nõudemaie.
Kodukana kosimaie.
Tõi tema iVlaiekese koju.

9vi

Mai tegi pennile pesada,
Saarikale sängikese,
Pani noa nurga peaie,
Oda teise otsa peale.
Jüri veeris voodiista.
Veeris nurgeti noasse,
Veeris otseti odasse.

Ämma ärkas homikulla,
Läks siis knmbri kutsumaie:
„0h Maie, minu minija.
Tõuse karja saatemaie.
Muude mullikad murulla,
Meie mullikad mujalla I"

„Uh ämma, minu omane.
Ei või tõusta, ci ärgata!"

Ämm läks karja saatemaie,
Mai jäi koju magamaie.
Küsisid külased naised,
Oma otsa neitsikesed.
Teise otsa tütarlapsed:
„Kns Maie, minijakeiie ?

Ämma kuulis, ämma kostis:
„Maie magab voodiissa!''

., Ämm tuli karja saatemasta,
Amm läks üles äratama:

„Tõuse üles, Maiekene,
Tõuse üles, tõsta peada!"

Leidis voodiid \erised,
Linad lepakarvalised,
Hurmased udupalakad.
Peened padjad plekilised.

„0h Maie, minu minija.
Miks su voodi uhnierdetud,
Sängi veered on verised?
Sina ehk tapsid mehe noore,
Mehe noore, kaasa kalli
L^inutid unise kaasa!"

9-L

„0h äiiinia minu omane,
Ei mina tapnud meesta nooita,
Meesta noorta, kaasa kallist,
Uinutand unista kaasa!
Oh ämma, minu omane,
Toast tapsin- tubasi; talle,
Laudast valgepea vasika,
Murult musta kukekese!"

Ämm oli usin uskumaie,
Nobe meelta nõudemaie.
Ämm läks tuppa katsumaie:
Toas on tubane talle.
Laudas valgej)ea vasikas,
Murul musta 'kukekene.

Maie mõistis, vasta kostis :
„Jüri veerend voodiista,
Veerend nurgeti noasse,
Veerend otseti odasse.
Võta paater pale eesta.
Helmed hella hinge eesta."

Ämma mõistis, vasta kostis:
„Ei paater maksa paleda,
Helmed hella hingekesta!
Oh Maie minu rainija,
Kinni võttijad tulevad.
Mis surma sinule teeme?
Kas teeme tulesta surma.
Või teeme raua raiumista,
Või teeme vette uppumista?"

„0h ämma, minu omane.
Kibe on tuline surma,
Raske raua raiumine,
Hale vette uppumine.
Tooge mu sinised lõngad,
Tooge mu punased lõngad.
Tehke see tuli sinine
Tehke see tuli punane !"

Ämm läks lõngu otsimaie.
Mai sai jalad jooksemaie,
Varbad valjult vaeldamaio,
Kannad maada kaevamaie.
Maie lippas lepikusse,
Maie põgt'nes pajusse. ^

„0h sa leppa, hoia minda.
Kallis leppa, kaitse minda!
Mul on otsijad järella.
Ohjad otsijail kä^ssa,
Köied kinnikõitijalla !"

Leppa keelella kõneles:
„Kuule, Maiekc minija,
Külas tehaks palju kütist,
Vallas palju saadusida,
Siita sinda leietakse.
Siis olemr hukas me mõlemad.
Kahju all mt' kahekesi!"

Maie lippas tüki teeda,
Tüki teeda, marga maada,
Lippas liivasta mageda.
Mis seal Maiel vasta tuli?
Tuli palšsu paju metsa.

,,0h sa paju, hoia minda.
Kallis paju, kaitse minda!
Mull on otsijad järella,
Ohjad otsijail käsissa,
Köied kinnikõitijella !"

Paju keelflla kõneles:
., Kuule Maieke, minija.
Mul tuleb kibe kiiliaega.
Mul tuleb i)alav parmuaega,
Elajate otsimine.
Tuleniitse kiskumine.
Siita sinda leietakse,
Siis oleme hukas me mõlemad,
Kahju all me kahekesi !"

aa

Maie lippas tüki teeda.
Tüki teeda, märga maada,
Mis seal Maiel vasta tuli ?
Tuli harva haabametsa :
^Oh sa haaba, hoia minda,
Ivallis haaba, kaitse minda!
Mul on otsijad järella.
Ohjad otsijil käsissa.
Köied kinnikõitajilla !

Haaba keelella kõneles :
„Alt olen harva, pealt olen paksu,
Siita sinda leietakse,
Siis oleme hukas me mõlemad,
Kahju all me kahekesi!"

Maie haaba' sajatama :
„Nõnda su lehed lõdisegu
Kui Maiel liha lõdiseb!"

Maie lippas tüki teeda,
Tüki teeda, marga maada,
Mis seal Maiel vasta tuli?
Tuli suuri kuusemetsa:
.,0h sa kuuske, hoia minda.
Kallis kuuske, kaitse minda!
Mul on otsijad Järella,
Ohjad otsijil käsissa.
Köied kinnikõitajilla!"

Kuuske keelella kõneles :
„Külas kooleb kümme meesta,
Kümme meesta, kümme naista.
Minust laudu lahutakse,
Minust palka palutakse,
Minust kirstu kujutakse,
Siita sinda leietakse."

Maie lippas tüki teeda.
Tüki teeda, marga maada,
Mis seal Maiel vasta tuli?
Jõgi Maiel vasta tuli :

„Oli sa jõgi, hoia minda.
Kallis jõgi, kaitse minda.
Kala Maie, mata Maie!
Mul on otsijad järella,
Ohjad otsijil käsissa,
Köied kinniköitajilla !"

Jõgi keelella kõneles :
„Ei või, ei või, Maiekene,
Ei või matta, ei või katta.
Minust nõota veetakse,
Sülda seesta leietakse,
Siis oleme hukas me mõlemad,
Kahju all me kahekesi !"

Maio lip}ias tüki teeda,
Tüki teetla. marga maada..
Mis seal Maiel vasta tuli ?
Meri Maiel Vasta 'tuli:
„Oh sa meri, hoia minda,
Kallis meri, kaitse minda.
Kata Maie, mata Maie!
Mul on otsijad järella.
Ohjad otsijil käsissa.
Köied kinniköitajilla!"

Meri keelella kõneles :
„Ei või, ei või, Maiekene,
Ei või matta, ei või katta,
Minust kalu püüetakse,
Sinda seesta leietakse.
Siis oleme hukas me mõlemad.
Kahju all me kahekesi!"

Maie lippas tüki teeda,
Tüki teeda, marga maada.
Mis sol Maiel vasta tuli?
Tuli vasta musta härga.

„ Kuule härga, hoia minda,
Kallis härga, kaitse minda.

Mul on otsijad järella.
Ohjad otsijil käsissa,
Köied kinniköitajilla !"

Härga keelella kõneles :
„ Kuule, Maieke niini ja,
Tule minu turja peale.
Seisa sarve juure peale.
Ma viin tüki Türgimaada.
Veidikese Venemaada,
Poole versta Poolamaada!'

Maret

Maret.

Mareta Kareta neiu,
Madli see madala vaimu
Saatis karja kaugeele,
Eemaleje heinamaale,
Leidis lapse lepikusta,
Mäe aita mätastelta.
Võttis sündinud sülesse.
Mähkis lapse mähkmetesse,
Sidus si-idirätikusse,
Pani jtõlle paeladesse.
Viis ta neiduifc tubaje,
Pärgapeade keskeelle :
„Tulge kokku tunnistama,
Kelle Looja loodud looma.
Kelle ilus hingekene.
Kelle iiägus näokene,
Kelle palgeed punased?"

Üks see vandus, teine vandus.
Vandus ihu, vandus hinge,
Vandus ihu helvetile.
Pea pärgele pesasse.
Keha keeva katelasse,

Vandus käed katsumasta,
Sõrmed külge pistemasta.

Kuhu lapsuke pannakse?
Viiaks peigude tubaje
Kübarpeade keskeelle.
„Tulge kokku tunnistama,
Kelle Looja loodud looma,
Kelle nägus näokene.
Kelle palgeed punased?"

Üks see vandus, teine vandus,
Hannus Saare saksa poega,
Kuresaare herra poega.
See oli vali vandumaie,
Vandus ihn, vandus hinge,
Vandus ihu helvetile.
Pea pärgeli pesasse,
Silmad saadana sülesse,
Keha keeva katelasse,
Vandus käed katsumasta,
Sõrmed külge pistemasta.

Madli võttis lapse sülle:
„Kuhu lapse me paneme?
Viime tulesse põlema
Või viime vette upumaie?

Laps aga padjusta pajatas,
Teki aita teki häälta :
„Hannus Saare saksa poega,
Kuresaare herra poega.
See aga minu isaksi,
Mareta Karota n(Mu,
See aga minu emaksi !
Minu sugu Soomemaalla,
Päris vennad Pärnumaalla,
Isa vennad Hiiumaalla.
Sugu ootas mind surema,
Yeiinad vette veeremaie,
Õed jõkke kukkumnie!" ,

Jeesuse soit

leesuse sõit.

leesus sõitis jõge pidi,
Püha Maarja perve pidi,
Mis neil vasta puutunessa?
Puutus vasta hiirukene,
Hiiruke hüva hobune,
Puutus ratsu raudakapja.
leesus rääkima ratsuga :
„Tere hiiru, hea hobune,
Tere ratsu, raudakapja,
Vii sa leesus üle vete.
Kanna Maarja kalda peale !''
Hiiru keelolla kõneles'
Meelella hobune mõistis :
,,Või ei viia leesust poega,
Või ei viia Maarja ema.
Olen ju väga väsinud.
Raskelt ära rammestunud :
Eile sõitsin sõja alla,
Täna sõitsin saja alla,
Suust mul pesti suitse verda,
Peast mul pesti päitse verda !"

leosus sõitis jõge pidi.
Püha Maarja perve pidi.
Mis neil vasta puutunessa ?
Kirik vasta puutunessa,
Kuldakuppu, hõberisti.

leesus kirikul' kOneles :
„Tere kirik, kuldakuppu,
Kuldakuppu, hõberisti.
Vii sa leesus üle vete,
Kanna Maarja kalda peale !"

„Või ei viia, leesus poega.
Ega kanda Maarja ema:
Homme suuri pühapäeva.
Sees mul papid pajatavad.

lil

Koolilapsed palju laulvad,
Singub seessa sinisärka,
Kõnnib kollaseid kasukaid!"

leesus sõitis järve pidi,
Püha Maarja perve pidi.
Mis neil vasta puutimessa .-^
Härga vasta pnutunessa.

„Tere härga, ugasarvi,
Vii sa leesus üle vete,
Kanna Maarja kalda peale,
Vii mind teisele talule!"
Härga keelella kõneles,
Ugasarvi meelel mõistis :
„Või ei ei viia leesus poega
Ega kanda Maarja ema:
Härja sarv on sammeldanud.
Härja kukru ike murdnud!"

leesus juba ütlemaie:
„Kulda panen kukru peale,
Sarve samblale hõbedat,
Vii aga leesus üle vete!"

Pani aga kulda kukru peale,
Sarvesamblale hõbedat.
Siis sai leesus üle jõe,
Maarja teisele talule.

leesus ütlema härjale,
Ugasarvele sõnuma :
„Kui seda härga hukatakse,
Vaga verda vaevatakse,
Hõimu kokku kutsutakse.
Armsaid ühte aetakse.
Sulle peetakse pidusid.

Kus set' hobu hukatakse,
Kus see liha surmatakse?
Soo serva suntsikusse,
Laane serva lammikusse,

3 02

Kussa vaakuvad varesed,
Kussa kaarnad krooksuvadki,
Kus kõik veerevad verele,
Kus kõik riius raipe kallal !"

Paastja Maarja

Päästja Maarja.

Jlma uppus udu kätte,
Maa aga J<adus kaste kätte.
Saksad tahtsid ilma sääda,
Ehtida ilul isandad.
Ei olnud päeva pealla ilma,
Ei olnud agu alla ilma.
Ei ohiud kuuda kõrgeessa,
Ei olnud tähti enam taevas.

Sest pole päeva pealla ilma,
Sest pole agu alla ilma,
leesus poega hukatic,
Vaga Jumal vaevatie,
leesus seliti tulessa.
Kaksi jalga kammitsassa.
Viisi sõrme venituses,
Vahr oli vÖÖlla, varvas suus^^

leesus tulesta kõneles,
leesus pajatas palavast :
„Kes viib sõna Maariale.
Annab teada armastele.
Et aga leesus hukatakse,
Vaga Jumal vaevatakse?"

Kak oli j^aiidud panni p?aie,^
Kala läks merde sõudemäfe,-
Kala viis sõna Maariale :
„Maai-ja, tule maale vaatma,
leesus poega hukatakse.
Vaga Jumal vaevatakse."

Ei see Maarja "iiskuiid juttu,
Uskund juttu, arvand õigeks.

Jeesus tulesta kõneles,
leesus pajatas palavast:
„Kes viib sõna Maariale,
Annab teada armastele?

Kukk oli pandud keema patta,
}*ool oli keenud, teine terve.
Kukk läks laulma õrre peale,
Kukk läks Maarjal sõna saatma.
Ei aga Maarja uskund juttu,
Uskund juttu, arvand õitseks.
Et see leesus hukatie.
Vaga Jumal vaevatie.

leesus tulesta kõneles,
leesus pajatas palavast :
„Kes viib sõna Maariale.
Annab teada armastele?"

Härg oli keemas kuumas katlas.
Pool oli keenud, teine terve.
Härg läks mäele mürinaga,
Härg viis sõna Maariale.
Andis teada armastele.

.Ei see Maarja uskund juttu,
Uskund juttu, ar\ and õigeks.

leesus tulesta kõneles,
leesus pajatas palavast :
„Kes viib sõna Maariale,
Annab teada armastele?"

Oli aga ilmal ilus tütar,
Taeva alla tarka lapsi,
See jooksis Jumala lävele,
Jooksis Maarja maja ette,
Kuldarõngast koputama,
Hõbelinki liigutama :
„ Kuule, ^Maarja minu mainm*^
Ilus ilma ehitaja.

H'4

Ei ole päeva pealla ilma,
Ei ole agu alla ilma,
Ei ole kuuda kõrgeessa,
Ei ole tähti taevaassa.
Saksad tahtsid ilma sääda.
Ehtida ilul isandad,
Ei sa;ind saksad ilma sääda
Ega ehtida isandad.
Maarja, tule maale vaatma.
leesus poega hukatie,
Vaga -Jumal ^"aevatie!"

Maarja hõikas kolme tütart,
Hõikas kahte kanakesta :
„Anna armas, Kati kallis,
Hedo hella tütrekene,
Tooge mulle ruttu riideid,
Kandke kätto kohe kingi.
Tooge tuppa hõbekuube,
Kandke kambri siidisärki.
Ma lähen maada vaatamaie!"

Hõikas kohe kolme sulast,
Palus palju palgalisi :
„Sulane, seo hobune,
Palgaline, pane ette.
Ori, otsi ohjad üles,
Karjane, tao. taosid,
Käskujalga, kääna saani.
Ma lähen maada vaatamaie!"

Panid aga ette hobugi.
Panid virga vehmerisse,
Isa istus ette peale.
Püha Maarja pära peale.
Vaene lapsi vahe peale.
Tulid alla maada vaatma.
Ilma ehtima ilule,
Võtsid leesu tule käesta.
Vaga vere vaeva käesta.

Kümme sõrme köite keerust,
Kaksi katta kammitsasta.
Sai aga päeva peale ilma,
Sai aga agu alla ilma,
Sai see kau kõrgeesse,
Saivad tähed taevaasse.

Kannel

Kannel.

Hakkame kannelt mängimaie.
Mis on vaja kandelele?
Laudu vaja kandelele.

Kust sai laudu kandelele ?
Vana lõvi lõua luista,
Sealt sai laudu kandelele.

Kust sai pulke kandeleU' ?
Vana haugi hammastesta.

Kust sai looka kandelele?
Vana haugi külje luista.

Kust sai keeli kandelele?
Õrna õe juuksf^esta.

Kust sai mängjat kandelele?
Omast hellast vennastagi.-

Kust sai tantsjat kandelele?
Oma õrnast õekesest.

Kust sai lauljat kandelele?
Oma hellast vennanaisest.

Source Colophon

Estonian source text from M.J. Eisen, Eesti rahwalaulud (Estonian Folk Songs), Tallinn, 1919. Public domain. Digitised by Project Gutenberg (eBook #62471). The source text preserves Eisen's original orthography and formatting, including archaic Estonian spellings and occasional OCR artifacts from the digitisation process.

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