From the Collection of Zacharias Topelius (1826)

These are the eleven Old Songs from the third volume of Zacharias Topelius the Elder's Suomen Kansan Vanhoja Runoja ynnä myös Nykyisempiä Lauluja ("Old Songs of the Finnish People, together with Newer Songs and Lays"), published in Turku in 1826. This volume contains some of the most important material in the entire Topelius collection: the earliest published Lemminkainen variant, recorded from a rune-singer in Vuokkiniemi, Russian Karelia, nine years before the first Kalevala; two versions of the Origin of Fire myth (the chain-of-swallowing cosmogonic narrative); the Origin of the Kantele (the sacred instrument fashioned from pike-bones); Vainamoinen's journey to Tuonela seeking the three lost words; and a prayer to Tapio, the forest spirit-lord who governs the bear.

The volume also contains a section of "Newer Songs" (Nykyisempiä Lauluja) — social satire, ballads, and occasional poetry — which fall outside the folk tradition and are not translated here. Source text from Project Gutenberg (EBook #72841).

Preface

Topelius's note to the reader for Volume III.

Let it be known that of the old songs in this Third Part, the Words of Fire are from the parish of Kemi; the Words of Sleep (or Childbirth) from the regions of Oulu; and all the rest — namely the Incantation (of which it should also be mentioned that it was sung over those who were believed to have fallen ill through a curse), Lemminkainen, the Words of Iron, both Origins of Fire, Vainamoinen's Works, the Words of Death, the Origin of the Kantele, and the Prayer to Tapio — are from the province of Arkhangelsk and the parish of Vuokkiniemi.

I. Incantation

Loihtiminen — a counter-spell incantation, sung over those believed to have been made ill by a curse. The singer claims terrifying supernatural weapons: a black iron-coated dog, a red stallion with a lake on its back and springs where the harness should be. The enemy sorcerer's tongue falls away; the Lapp is sung into the fierce rapids of Turja.

I sing the Laplander,
I recite my secret feeder,
I sing through his shoulders,
Through his wicked jaws,
His shirt-collar in two,
His breast-bone asunder.
I sing a cap onto his head,
Then I sing beneath the cap
A bundle of Viipuri's worms,
Some horsehair-serpents,
With which I feed my feeders,
Set to biting my biters.
I have a black dog,
A hound of iron coat,
Brazen guts in its belly,
Polished of copper,
Which chews bone and all,
Gristles and gnaws cartilage.
Then I sing the Laplander
Into Turja's fierce rapids,
Beneath the highest rapids-rock,
Into a stone in the middle of the rapids,
To freeze as fire,
To spark as flame.
I have a red stallion,
A horse of fine appearance,
With iron hooves,
With steel tramplers,
A lake upon its back,
Clear water on its spine,
Springs where the harness-straps should be,
Where sorcerers drink water,
Where village enviers lap,
Where fire-throats are parched.
There the sorcerer's throat dried up,
The Lapp's tongue fell away.

II. Lemminkainen

Lemminkainen — the earliest published form of the Lemminkainen myth, recorded by Topelius from a rune-singer in Vuokkiniemi, Russian Karelia. This version predates Lonnrot's first Kalevala by nine years. The hero defies his mother's warning of three deaths on the road — a fire-eagle, a burning pit, and a serpent-fence — overcomes each obstacle through prayer and enchantment, and arrives at Paivola's feast. There a singing-duel with Paivola, Lord of the Sky, escalates from conjuring beasts to a sword-comparison and finally to mortal combat. The song breaks off with fragmentary transformation-verses. Topelius notes that the rune-singer supplied the ending orally: Paivola struck Lemminkainen but his sword broke; Lemminkainen then struck Paivola and split him in three. In Lonnrot's Kalevala this material would be distributed across several cantos and smoothed into continuous narrative; here it remains in its raw composite form, exactly as sung.

Smoke burns on the island,
Fire at the cape's tip.
Too great for a herdsman's fire,
Too small for a war-fire.
All summer the water was boiled,
All summer the forest-trees were burned,
Forest-trees, island-grounds —
But the beer would not ferment,
Nor the ale begin to work.
They added cones from the spruce,
Needles from the pine —
At last the beer was ready.
Paivola, Lord of the Sky,
He then spoke these words:
"Invite the lame, invite the crippled,
But do not invite Lemminkainen —
Lemminkainen is a flighty boy,
He is quarrelsome in everything."

Said the reckless Lemminkainen:
"O my mother who bore me!
Bring my war-coat,
Carry my battle-garments."
"Where are you going, my son —
To the forest or to the sea,
Or to the elk-hunt?"
"O my mother who bore me!
Not to the forest, not to the sea —
I am going to Paivola's feast,
To the good company's drinking."
"Do not go, my son —
Three deaths lie on the road."
"O my mother who bore me!
Tell the first death."
"You travel a little way,
Walk a short stretch of road —
A burning rapids comes,
In the rapids a burning island,
On the island a burning birch,
On the birch burning branches,
On the branches a burning eagle,
On the eagle burning claws.
Its claws blaze with fire,
Its beak-tongue burns hot.
It has devoured a hundred men,
Destroyed a thousand heroes."
"O my mother who bore me!
That is not a man's death,
Nor a hero's end.
O my mother who bore me!
Tell the middle death."
"You travel a little way,
Walk a short stretch of road —
A burning pit comes,
Full of hot stones,
Of burning boulders."
"O my mother who bore me!
That is not a man's death,
Nor a hero's end.
O my mother who bore me!
Tell the last death."
"You go to Paivola's yards,
To the good company's drinking —
Bears are in iron chains,
A fence is built to the sky,
Laced with serpents,
Wound about with vipers,
Their tails set swaying,
Their heads set swinging."
"O my mother who bore me!
There is no man's death there,
Nor a hero's end.
Bring my war-coat,
Carry my battle-garments."
She brought his war-coat,
Carried his battle-garments.
He set off for Paivola's feast,
For the good company's drinking.
He plucked grouse from the thicket,
Capercaillie from the birch-wood.
"My eagle, bird of the sky!
Let the traveler pass first,
Lemminkainen above all."
It let the traveler pass.
He traveled a little way,
Walked a short stretch of road —
A burning pit came,
Full of hot stones,
Of burning boulders.
"O Ukko, God above,
Father in heaven!
Raise a cloud from the northwest,
Another from the great south,
A third straight from the northeast:
Let them come together,
Crash together in a heap,
Snow a staff's length,
Sleet a spear's shaft,
On those hot stones,
On those burning boulders."
He raised a cloud from the northwest,
Another from the great south,
A third from the northeast:
They came together,
Crashed together in a heap.
It snowed a staff's length,
Sleeted a spear's shaft
On those hot stones,
On those burning boulders.
"Let the traveler pass first,
Lemminkainen above all."
It let the traveler pass.
He went to Paivola's yards —
A fence built to the sky,
Laced with serpents,
Wound about with vipers,
Their tails set swaying,
Their heads set swinging.
"Serpent, black one under the earth,
Grub of Tuoni's color,
Crawler beneath the sod,
Mover through the tussock,
Threader of tree-roots,
Splitter of aspen-roots!
Push your head into the tussock,
Let the traveler pass first,
Lemminkainen above all."
He went to Paivola's feast,
To the good company's drinking.
A tankard of beer was brought,
Carried in a two-handled cup:
A serpent had been wound inside.
He then spoke these words:
"Food to the mouth to be eaten,
Trash to the floor to be dropped
With the left thumb,
With the ring finger —
Put it beneath the tankard's bottom."
Paivola, Lord of the Sky,
Sang a lake onto the floor.
Lemminkainen, the reckless boy,
Sang a bull onto the floor;
The bull drank the water.
Paivola, Lord of the Sky,
Sang a hare onto the floor;
Lemminkainen, the reckless boy,
Sang a fox onto the floor.
Paivola, Lord of the Sky,
Sang a squirrel onto the beam,
To run the beam-ends;
Lemminkainen, the reckless boy,
Sang a marten onto the floor.
Paivola, Lord of the Sky,
He then spoke these words:
"Lemminkainen, reckless boy!
Let us compare our swords,
Let us measure our blades —
Whose blade is fairer,
Whose sword more manly."
Lemminkainen's blade was fairer,
His sword more manly,
A straw's breadth longer.
"Lemminkainen, reckless boy!
Let us begin to fight —
The blood is finer in the yard,
Fairer on the frozen ground."
* * *
I would go yet as a pine —
I would be hewn for raft-poles;
As a birch on the hard ground —
I would be hewn for ski-wood;
I would go as a fish in the sea.

This song is incomplete; but the rune-singer told that Paivola struck Lemminkainen so that the sword broke to pieces; then Lemminkainen struck Paivola and split him in three parts. Regretting this, Lemminkainen wished to hide, but feared death in every hiding-place. This fight is also told in the Song of the Making of Beer, in the first volume.

III. Words of Iron

Rauan Sanat — an iron incantation, sung when treating a wound made by an iron weapon. The singer addresses iron as a person — once innocent milk in a maiden's breast, now grown murderous. Iron is commanded to heal its own wound and yield salve from its own stone. The Lord's silk and Mary's veil are summoned as bandages.

Iron, son of Vuolahainen,
Son of Vuolahainen's son!
You were not great then —
Neither great nor strong,
Nor very haughty,
When you lay as milk,
In the young maiden's breasts,
In the nursling's arms.
Was it then you began to grow great,
To become altogether terrible,
When you cut your brother,
Slashed your mother's child,
Held your own kin in your jaws?
Come and know your work,
Come and heal your evil
Before I tell your mother,
Before I speak to your mighty parent.
Greater the mother's toil,
Greater the parent's sorrow
When the son does evil,
The child dwells harshly.
Let your wrath melt away
As salt melts in the sea;
Let your evil sink
As sand sinks in the sea;
Let your bitterness vanish
As tar vanishes in the making,
As tallow melts in the rendering,
From the skin of the wretched one,
From the body the poor woman bore,
From the flesh the mother carried,
From the skin the woman gave.
Rise, balm, from the stone,
Grease, from the iron's mouth,
From the steel make ointment,
As salve for the wounded,
As balm for the sores.
The Lord's silk for a bandage,
The Lord's fleece for a covering,
Mary's membrane for a cap —
Draw across a love-leaf,
Bring a golden bud,
Set golden water-lilies to slip,
So that milk does not run to ground,
Blood does not fall to the field,
Over the Lord's creation,
Over the utterly blessed.
A morsel of Jesus's flesh,
A piece of the Lord's pillow,
As a plug for the fierce wound,
As a patch for the evil gate.
There is no burn's burning,
No warmth's approaching,
No frost's freezing,
No harsh weather's touching,
No water's pouring,
That I have seen with my eyes,
Touched with my hands,
Spoken with my holy mouth,
Pressed with my palms.

IV. Origin of Fire

Tulen Synty — the first of two fire-origin charms in this volume. Fire is rocked in a golden cradle in the high heavens and the lower earth-mother. A golden eagle strikes a spark that burns through six parishes. The spark falls into a lake, where it is swallowed in turn by a blue ball, a whitefish, and a red salmon — the classic Finnish chain-of-swallowing motif. Vainamoinen and his kin weave a net and cast three times; in the great pike's belly they find salmon, in the salmon a whitefish, in the whitefish the blue ball, and in the ball the fire-spark.

Where was fire rocked,
Where was flame swaddled?
In the upper heavens,
In the lower earth-mother.
There was fire rocked,
In a brazen cradle,
Silver straps jingling.
A golden eagle swooped down,
A spark of fire leapt free,
Burned the earth, burned Manala,
Burned through six parishes,
Burned the eye of six hoes,
The edge of two axes;
It went through the chimney like a whirlwind,
Tore the breasts of a maiden,
Burned the child from its cradle;
It went into Aluenjarvi,
Where a blue ball swallowed it,
It rolled and it turned,
In the anguish of fire,
In the burning of flame.
Then came a sleek whitefish,
Swallowed the blue ball,
It rolled and it turned
In the anguish of fire,
In the burning of flame.
The whitefish past the islands,
The salmon darted past the shallows.
Then came a red salmon,
Swallowed the sleek whitefish,
It rolled and it turned
In the anguish of fire,
In the burning of flame.
The salmon darted past the shallows,
The whitefish past the islands,
In the anguish of fire,
In the burning of flame.
* * *
Sisters, the little divers,
Brothers weave the net,
In a single summer's night.
The net was finished.
They drew once with the current —
Perch and pike,
All manner of water-fish.
They did not catch that fish,
The one for which the net was woven.
A second time against the current —
Perch and pike,
All the fish of the sea.
They did not catch that fish,
The one for which the net was woven.
They cast a third time —
The net caught on a snag;
On a stone or on a branch,
Or on the pike's shoulders,
On the water-dog's hook-bones?
Said old Vainamoinen:
"This is on the pike's shoulders,
On the water-dog's hook-bones —
It cannot be touched by hand
Without iron gauntlets."
* * *
He got the pike into his boat,
Got the grey pike,
Split the grey pike:
Inside was a red salmon.
He split the red salmon:
Inside was a sleek whitefish.
He split the sleek whitefish:
Inside was a blue ball.
He split the blue ball:
Inside was a fire-spark.

V. Origin of Fire (variant)

Tulen Synty (toisin) — a second version from a different singer. In this telling, Ilmarinen and Vainamoinen together strike fire from a living serpent. The spark burns through earth and Manala, through a maiden's breast, through a child's cradle. The mother tracks the rolling spark to the lake. Fish swallow fish — whitefish then trout. The old god Ukko himself drops a golden knife from the clouds to open the salmon.

Ilmarinen struck fire,
Vainamoinen sparked it forth,
With a living oracle,
With a spotted serpent.
He struck fire from his nails,
Sparked it from his joints,
At the nose of the iron bench,
At the end of the golden chamber.
A fire-spark leapt free,
Through the earth, through Manala,
Through the chimney like a whirlwind,
Through the children's cradle,
Burned the mother's breasts,
Burned the maiden's nipples.
Thus the mother knew better:
She sensed the fire's heat,
Rolling the ember —
A fire-spark leapt free,
Fell upon the Aloe-lake.
Then came a sleek whitefish,
Swallowed the fire-spark.
Then the whitefish swam,
Cape by cape, island by island.
Every cape gave counsel,
Every island got the news.
Said after swimming:
"There is no room in this water
For what I have swallowed."
Then came a mighty trout
That had eaten a hundred fathoms,
Whose jaws held the blood of six rapids.
It swallowed the sleek whitefish.
Then the mighty trout swam,
Cape by cape, island by island.
Every cape gave counsel,
Every island got the news.
Said after swimming:
"There is no room in this water
For what I have swallowed."
* * *
They pushed and kicked,
But caught no fish from it.
They drew against the current —
They caught the fish from it,
The one for which the net was woven.
Ukko, golden king —
A knife-sheath dropped from the cloud,
A knife fell from the heavens,
A golden head, a silver blade,
The head came into my hand,
The blade into the Lord's purse —
To cut open the red salmon.

VI. Words of Fire

Tulen Sanat — words spoken over a burn wound. The singer summons a maiden of ice from the North, subdues the fire-god Panu (son of Tuoni), sends the bee beyond the moon and sun to fetch honey from the Lord's chambers, and invokes God's own breath as the healer. One of the most complete fire-healing charms in the Topelius collection.

You, flimsiest of the sky-maidens,
Featheriest of sucklers!
Rock ice from the north,
Bring frost from the cold village —
With that ice I freeze,
With that frost I chill.
I thrust ice into my fist,
With frost I chill my hand,
I make the fire powerless,
The flame harmless,
The heat senseless,
The blaze impotent.
Panu the wretch, son of Tuoni,
Churned a fiery churn,
Sparkled with sparks,
In clean clothes,
In white garments.

Rise, maiden, from the marsh,
From the ice-boy's bed,
From the frost-child's cabin —
Draw your cloak from the cold,
Your skirt from under the frost,
Cast it over the burning,
Over the scorching as a cover,
So your boy does not burn,
So your nursling does not perish —
Whose cap is in the crying,
Whose tunic is in the icy,
Whose collar is in the lime-dust.
Wrap fire in your foldings,
Flame in your combings,
In your clean ones,
In your white garments.
Raise ice, raise frost,
Raise coldness from the river,
For the places that are burned,
For the wounds where hurt has come.
There is cold in abundance,
Here there is soothing for the pain.

Bee, bird of the sky —
Fly where I command,
Over the moon, under the sun,
Past the shoulders of the Great Bear,
Fly to the Lord's cellar,
To the chambers of the Almighty,
Thrust your wings in honey,
Dip your cloak in mead,
Fluff up your feathers,
Bring honey in your wings,
Carry mead in your cloak,
To the places that are burned,
To the wounds that fire has scorched.

Give, Lord, of your breath,
Give, gentle God, your mouth;
I speak from a gentle mouth,
From the Lord's good spirit.
I warm from warmth,
I pour from balm.
You yourself, Father God —
Make whole yet again,
Fit for the day's wearing,
Fair on both sides,
Blameless at the edges,
Painless in the middle,
Without sore on top,
Wholly well below.

There the saunas steam,
The new rooms send up smoke,
Among the upper Gods,
Among the lower Earth-Mothers —
Let the steam be cast here,
Let the waters be sprinkled here,
As a soaking for this wound,
As a balm for the sores,
As a salve for the hurts,
As a healing for the harm.

VII. Vainamoinen's Works

Vainamoisen toimituksia — a compressed epic sequence. Vainamoinen builds a boat by singing but lacks three words. He journeys to Tuonela and lies twice to Tuoni's daughter — first claiming water brought him, then fire — and is caught each time. He confesses the truth: he came for three words. "Many have come here, few have gone from here." He enters the sea as a darkness, as a serpent, as a stone — but finds no words until he reaches the dead giant Antero Vipunen, with squirrel-spruces on his brow, and digs up the missing words from beneath the roots.

Old Vainamoinen himself —
He built a boat by craft,
Fashioned a vessel by singing.
He lacked three words
While setting the hull-plank,
While joining the stern-curve,
While fitting the prow.
He went seeking a steed from Tuoni,
A mount from Manala;
Then he cried out and called:
"Bring a boat, daughter of Tuoni,
A ferry, child of Manala!"
Tuoni's daughter scolds,
Death's hinges clatter:
"You'll be taken from here
When the reason is told.
What brought you to Manala,
Without sickness slaying you,
Without some other death destroying you?"
"Water brought me to Manala."
"I know Vainamoinen by that,
That old liar;
Water would be dripping from your clothes,
Your fine garments soaked."
"Well then, I lied."
He called out and cried:
"Bring a boat, daughter of Tuoni,
A ferry, child of Manala!"
Tuoni's daughter scolds,
Death's children clatter:
"What brought you to Manala,
Without sickness slaying you,
Without some other death destroying you?"
"Fire brought me to Manala."
"I know Vainamoinen by that,
That old liar.
Fire would be blazing from your clothes,
Your fine garments scorched."
"Well then, I lied;
I must tell the truth:
I built a boat by craft,
I lacked three words
While setting the hull-plank,
While joining the stern-curve.
I went seeking a steed from Tuoni,
A mount from Manala."
Tuoni's daughter scolds,
Death's hinges clatter:
"Many have come here,
Few have gone from here."
He went as a darkness into the sea,
As a serpent into the farmyard:
He did not get a word from there.
He rolled as a stone into the sea,
A hinge in a door-post,
Slaying a hundred grayling,
A thousand of the mother's young:
He did not get a word from there.
Said old Vainamoinen:
"A week now Viro has lain in the earth,
Long has my chalk-one been gone,
On his brow are squirrel-spruces,
Above are spruces of flower-crown,
On his feet are fine pines."
He felled the spruces from their roots,
Dug up the soft pines.
He got from there two words,
Even a third besides —
The boat was finished.
He pushed the boat into the water,
The hundred-planked one onto the waves,
He himself sat in the stern,
Leaning on the golden prow,
Holding the brazen oar.

A footnote by Topelius: "Namely Antero Vipunen, whom the Song of Vainamoinen's Boat-Building also mentions in the first volume."

VIII. Words of Death

Kalman Sanat — a banishing spell against death-spirits. The affliction is sent to the dead man's home, where there are rotting bones and fallen skulls — for the hungry to eat, for the craving to bite. The closing formula sends the spirit to the shores of the Sea of Rutja.

Go where I command —
Into the sunken udder,
Under the fallen covering,
Into the dead man's home,
Into the fallen one's stall;
There are rotting bones there,
Fallen skull-bones there,
For the hungry man to eat,
For the craving one to bite.
There I banish you
To the shores of Rutja's sea, etc.

The closing words of this song are the same as those of the Words of the Colic, which are in the second volume.

IX. Words of Sleep and Childbirth

Ummen ja lapsen Saajasen Sanat — a birth incantation. The sky is torn into openings, the heavens into windows. The woman's body is commanded to open. Ruff-fish and burbot contribute their slime; the red salmon's tail helps unlock the bone-gates.

Tear the sky into openings,
The heavens into windows,
Rend the woman's thigh
When you've gone inside;
Take grit from the ruff-fish,
Slime from the burbot,
From the tail of the red salmon —
Unlock the fleshy bolts,
Release the bony locks.

X. Origin of the Kantele (variant)

Kanteleen Synty (toisin) — a variant of the kantele origin myth, recorded at Vuokkiniemi. Vainamoinen finds a weeping boat that laments being left to rot while other boats go to war. He launches it, fills it with maidens and suitors, sails three days to the pike-snag. He fashions the first kantele — the sacred five-stringed instrument — from pike-bones and pike-jaws. When old and young try to play, they fail. Only when the maker plays do every creature in forest and water come to hear, and even Vainamoinen himself weeps tears rounder than lingonberries.

Old Vainamoinen himself —
He went to seek the horse,
To listen for the mane-waver.
He heard a maiden weeping.
To there he kicked without shoes,
Without cap he hurried.
"Why do you weep, new boat,
Why do you pine, boat with oarlocks?"
"This is why I weep, new boat,
This is why I pine, boat with oarlocks:
Other boats go to war,
But I rot on my planks,
I decay on my keelson;
The vilest of sky-birds
Build their nests on me,
The roughest of earth-worms
Dwell beneath me."
He pushed the boat into the water,
The hundred-planked one onto the waves,
He himself sat in the stern,
Leaning on the golden prow,
Holding the brazen oar.
He sings and croons —
Sang a boatful of maidens,
Tin-headed maidens,
A second boatful of suitors,
Comb-headed suitors.
He set the old ones rowing;
Old ones rowed, heads trembled.
He set the young ones rowing;
Young ones rowed, oars flexed,
The prow sang like a swan,
The oar-circles whined like wood-grouse,
The thole-pins crowed like black-grouse,
The stern croaked like a crow.
He rowed one day in river-waters,
A second day in land-waters,
A third day in home-waters.
The boat caught on a snag —
On a stone or on a branch,
Or on the pike's shoulders,
On the water-dog's hook-bones.
Old Vainamoinen himself —
He drew the knife from its sheath,
From his left side.
He drew water with his knife —
The head broke in two pieces,
The blade crumbled to dust.
Whoever is the eldest of the suitors —
Let him split it apart.
The winner has the smoothest hands,
The suitor has the cleanest.
He sailed to Luotola's sea,
He took from there pike-bones,
Pike-bones, pike-heads,
Teeth of the great pike;
He fashioned a duck-bone instrument,
A fishbone kantele.
He set the old ones playing;
Old ones played, heads trembled.
He set the young ones playing;
Young ones played, fingers flexed —
Joy did not come to joy,
Nor music to the music,
Nor song to the singing.
Let the joy be taken yonder,
Let the kantele be carried
To the hands of the one who made it,
To the fingers of the one who fitted it.
Vainamoinen plays —
With small hands, with slender fingers,
The thumb rises lightly:
The young wept, the old wept,
Even Vainamoinen himself wept,
Tears rolled from his eyes,
Rounder than lingonberries,
Rounder than a wood-grouse's eggs,
Rounder than an ox's heads,
Onto his broad chest,
From his chest to his knees.
Nothing in the forest remained,
No four-legged runner,
No two-winged whirrer,
That did not come to listen,
When the Father made his joy;
Even the forest's own mistress
Spread herself on an alder-bough;
Nothing in the water remained,
No six-finned swimmer,
That did not come to listen;
Even the water's own mistress
Drew herself onto a water-stone,
Fluffing her fine hair,
Shaking her tresses.

XI. Prayer to Tapio

Rukous, jolla Tapio (metan haltia) kutsuttiin — a prayer to Tapio, the spirit-lord of the forest, and his son Pinneys. This brief invocation was sung by hunters to summon game into their snares. "Come like red fire / pour like summer water" — the oldest prayers are the shortest and most direct.

Forest's old wife, fair one —
Bring Tapio himself, the forest's own,
Pinneys, son of Tapio —
Do not withhold, do not hold back!
Christ himself has christened you,
The Almighty himself has baptized you
In the heart of the forest's body:
Come like red fire,
Pour like summer water,
Into the middle of my golden snares,
Into my open traps.

Colophon

Ancient Songs of the Finnish People — Volume III (Suomen Kansan Vanhoja Runoja ynnä myös Nykyisempiä Lauluja, III) — the third volume of the first Finnish folk poetry collection ever published. Compiled by Zacharias Topelius the Elder (1781–1831), district physician in Nykarleby, Ostrobothnia. Published in Turku, 1826.

These eleven songs — the Old Songs (Vanhoja Runoja) from the collection — include the earliest published Lemminkainen variant (nine years before the first Kalevala), two versions of the Origin of Fire myth, the Origin of the Kantele, Vainamoinen's journey to Tuonela, and a prayer to Tapio, the forest spirit. The five "Newer Songs" (Nykyisempiä Lauluja) — social satire, ballads, and occasional poetry — fall outside the folk tradition and are not included.

Translated from Finnish by the New Tianmu Anglican Church, March 2026, for the Good Work Library at tianmu.org.

This is a Good Works Translation: the English text was independently derived from the Finnish source. No prior complete English translation of this collection exists. The translation follows the Kalevala meter's natural cadence — trochaic octosyllabic verse with parallelism — rendering each line as a verse line in English to preserve the sung form.

Source text from Project Gutenberg (EBook #72841). The 1826 Finnish original is in the public domain.

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

🌲

Source Text: Suomen Kansan Vanhoja Runoja (III)

Finnish source text from Zacharias Topelius, Suomen Kansan Vanhoja Runoja ynnä myös Nykyisempiä Lauluja, III (Turku, 1826). Project Gutenberg EBook #72841. Presented here for reference, study, and verification alongside the English translation above.

Lukioille.

Vanhoja Runoja.

Loihtiminen.
Lemmingäinen.
Rauan Sanat.
Tulen Synty.
Tulen Synty. (toisin)
Tulen Sanat.
Väinämöisen toimituksia.
Kalman Sanat.
Ummen Sanat.
Kanteleen Synty. (toisin)
Rukous, jolla Tapio (metän haltia) kutsuttiin.

Nykyisempiä Lauluja.

Orjaväestä.
Kellon kylän Mariasta.
Juttu Juomareista.
Laula Tupakan puutteesta.
Talonpojan muistutus Herrasmiehelle.

Lukioille.

Tiedoksi annetaan, että täsä Kolmannesa Osasa olevista vanhoista
runoista ovat Tulen Sanat Kemin pitäjästä, Ummen (tai Lapsen Saajaisen)
Sanat Oulun tienoilta kotosin ja kaikki muut, nimittäin Loihtiminen
(josta täsä myös mainittakoon että se veisatettiin sairahilta, jotka
luultiin kirouksen kautta tullehen kivun alaisiksi), Lemmingäinen,
Rauan Sanat, Tulen Synnyt, Väinämöisen toimitukset, Kalman Sanat,
Kanteleen Synty ja Rukous jolla Tapio kutsuttiin Arkkangelin läänistä
ja Vuokkiniemen pitäjästä.

Vanhoja Runoja.

Loihtiminen.

Minä laulan Lappalaisen,
Sala-syöjäni sanelen,
Laulan halki hartionsa,
Puhki leukansa paheten,
Paijan kauluksen kaheksi,
Rikki rintalastasesta.
Siihen laulan lakin päähän,
Siit' on laulan alle lakin
Vihkon Viipurin matoja,
Jonkun jouhi-kärmehiä,
Joll' on syötän syöjiäni,
Puretan purijatani.
Ompa mulla musta koira,
Rakki rauan karvallinen,
Suolet vaskiset vatassa,
Kuparista kuuraeltu,
Jok' on luinehen puroovi,
Ruotinehen roohoaavi.
Siit’ on laulan Lappalaisen,
Turjan koskehen kovahan,
Alla kopron korkeimman,
Keskellä kosen kiveksi, [kosen eli kosken]
Tulena palelomahan,
Säkähinä säihkymähän.
On mulla orit punanen,
Hevonen hyvän näkönen,
Joll' on rautaiset kaviat.
Teräksiset temmottimet,
Joll' on lampi lautasilla,
Vesi selvä selkä-luilla,
Lähet länkien sialla, [eli ränkien]
Jost' on noijat vettä juovat,
Lappavat kylän katehet,
Tuli kurkut kuihuavat.
Siihen kuivu noijan kulkku,
Lakahtu Lapilta kieli.

Lemminkäinen.

Savu saarella palaavi,
Tuli niemen tutkamessa.
Suur' olis paimosen paloksi.
Pien' olis soan savuksi.
Kesä vettä keitettihin,
Salo-puita poltettihin,
Salo-puita, saari-maita,
Ei ottanut olut hapata,
Eikä kalja käyäksehen.
Pani kuusesta käpyjä,
Petäjästä helpehejä,
Saipa olut valmihiksi.
Päivilä tuo Ilman Ukko,
Hän tuon sanoiksi virkki:
"Kutsu rujot, kutsu rammat,
Elä kutsu Lemmingäistä,
Lemmingäin on lieto poika,
Se on kaikitsi torasa".

Sano Lieto Lemmingäinen:
"Oi emoni kantajani!
Tuo sie soti-sopani,
Kanna vaino-vaatteheni".
"Kunne lähet poikuoni,
Metsällekö vai merelle,
Vain on hirven hiihtohon"?
"Oi emoni kantajani!
Enkä metsälle, enkä merelle;
Lähen Päivilän pitohin,
Hyvän joukon juominkihin".
"Äläs lähe poikuoni,
Kolm' on surmoa matalla" [eli matkalla]
"Oi emoni kantajani!
Sano surma ensimmäinen".
"Menet matkoja vähäsen,
Astut teitä pikkaraisen,
Tuloovi tulinen koski,
Koskes' on tulinen luoto,
Luuos' on tulinen koivu,
Koivus' on tuliset oksat,
Oksill' on tulinen kokko,
Kokoll' on tuliset kynnet.
Sen kynnet tulin palaavi.
Kita kieli lämpiöövi.
Se on syönyt sata'in miestä,
Tuhonnut tuhan urosta".
"Oi emoni kantajani!
Ei ole siinä miehen surma,
Eikä kuolema Urohon.
Oi emoni kantajani!"
Sano surma keskimmäinen.
"Menet matkoja vähäsen,
Astut teitä pikkaraisen,
Tuloo tulinen hauta,
Täysi kuumia kiviä,
Palavoja paateroja".
"Oi emoni, kantajani!
Ei ole siinä miehen surma,
Eikä kuolema Urohon.
Oi emoni, kantajani!
Sano surma jälkimmäinen".
"Menet Päivilän pihoille,
Hyvän joukon juominkihin,
Karhut on rauta kahleissa,
Ait' on tehty taivahaseen,
Matoloill' on vitsatsettu,
Kärmehill' on käännelletty,
Hännät heitty häilymähän,
Päät keikut kehisemään".
"Oi emoni, kantajani!
Ei ole siellä miehen surma,
Eikä kuolema Urohon.
Tuoppas soti-sopani,
Kanna vaino-vaatteheni".
Toipa soti-sopansa,
Kanto vaino-vaattehensa.
Läksi Päivilän pitohin,
Hyvän joukon juominkihin.
Tempi teiriä lehosta,
Koppeloita koivikosta.
"Kokkoseni Ilman lintu!
Lase eelläs matkamiestä, [eli laske]
Lemmingäistä liiatenkin".
Laski eellä matkamiehen.
Meni matkoja vähäsen,
Astu teitä pikkaraisen,
Tuloo tulinen hauta,
Täys' on kuumia kiviä,
Palavoja paateroja.
"Oi Ukko, yli Jumala,
Tahi Taata taivahainen!
Nossas pilvi luotehelta,
Toinen suurelta suvelta,
Kolmas kohti koilisesta:
Nepä yhtehen yhytä,
Lommakkohon loukahutti,
Sa-a lunta sauvan varsi.
Kiehitteli keihäs varsi,
Nuille kuumille kiville,
Palavoille Paateroille".
Nosti pilven luotehelta,
Toisen suurelta suvelta,
Kolmannen koilisesta:
Nepä yhtehen yhytti,
Lommakkohon loukahutti.
Sato lunta sauvan varsi,
Kiehitteli keihäs varsi,
Nuille kuumille kiville,
Palavoille paateroille.
"Lase eelläs matkamiestä,
Lemmingäistä liiatenkin".
Laski eellä matkamiehen.
Meni Päivilän pihoille,
Ait' on tehty taivahaseen,
Matoloill' on vitsatsettu,
Käärmehill' on käännelletty,
Hännät heitty häilymähän.
Päät keikut kehisemähän.
"Mato musta maan alanen,
Toukka Tuonen karvallinen,
Kulkia kulon alanen,
Läpi mättähen meniä,
Puun juuren puettelia,
Haavan juuren halkasia!
Pistä pääsi mättähäseen,
Lases eellä matkamiestä,
Lemmingäistä liiatenkin".
Meni Päivilän pitohin,
Hyvän joukon juominkihin.
Tuotiin olutta tuoppi,
Kannettiin kaksi-korvasella:
Käärme sinn' on käänneltynnä.
Hän tuon sanoiksi virkki:
"Ruoka suuhun syötänehen,
Ruhka maahan tuotanehen [taikka rikka]
Vasemmalla peukalolla,
Sormella nimittömällä,
Kannun alle pantaneekin".
Päivilä tuo Ilman Ukko,
Laulo lammen laattialle.
Lemmingäinen lieto poika,
Laulo härän laattialle;
Härkä veen siitä joi.
Päiviläinen Ilman Ukko
Laulo jäneksen laattialle,
Lemmingäinen lieto poika,
Laulo revon laattialle.
Päiviläinen Ilman Ukko,
Laulo oravan orren päälle,
Orren päitä juoksemahan,
Lemmingäinen lieto poika,
Laulo neän laattialle.
Päiviläinen Ilman Ukko,
Hän tuon sanoiksi virtti:
"Lemmingäinen lieto poika!
Katselkommas kalpojamme,
Mitelkomma miekkojamme,
Kumman kalpa kaunihimpi,
Kumman miekka miehusampi".
Lemmingäisen on kalpa kaunihimpi,
Hänen miekka miehusampi,
Oljen kortta korkeampi.
"Lemmingäinen lieto poika!
Ruvetkommas tappelohon,
Pihall' on veret paremmat,
Kakaroill' on kaunihimmat".
       *   *   *
Menisin männyksi vielä,
Lautta-puiksi hakattaisiin;
Koivuksi kovalla maalla,
Suksi-puiksi hakattaisiin;
Menisin meren kalaksi.

Tästä on Runo vaillinainen; vaan Runo-niekka jutteli että Päivilä
löi Lemmingäistä niin että miekka meni paloiksi; sitten Lemmingäinen
löi Päivilää ja jako hänen kolmeen osaan. Tätä katuessansa aikoi
Lemmingäinen piilomaan, vaan pelkäs joka piilossa surmaa. — Tästä
tappeluksesta kertoo myös Runo Oluen teosta, ensimäisesä osasa.

Rauan Sanat.

Rauta, poika Vuolahainen,
Vuolaisen pojan poika!
Etsäs sillon suuri ollut —
Etkä suuri, etkä varma,
Et kovin koriakana, [toisin: et kovin kipusakana]
Kuinsas maitona makasit,
Nuoren neitosen nisissä,
Kasvavaisen kainaloissa.
Siitäkös suureksi rupeisit,
Kasvot aivan kauhiaksi,
Koskas vestit veikkoasi,
Lastusit emonsi lasta,
Sukuansi suin pitelit?
Tule työsi tuntemahan,
Pahasi parantamahan
Ennen kuin sanon emolle,
Virkon valta vanhemmalle.
Enämpi emolle työtä,
Vaiva suuri vanhemmalle,
Kuin poika pahon teköövi,
Lapsi ankein asuuvi.
Sulakohon sun vihansi
Kuin suola suli meressä;
Painukohon sun pahansi
Kuin santa vaju merehen;
Katokohon karvahansi
Niinkuin terva tehtäissä,
Rasva räyvyteltäissä
Ihosta imehnon raukan,
Karvasta kavon tekemän,
Emon tuoman ruumihista,
Immin antaman ihosta.
Nouse kaste kalliosta,
Rasva rauan suumalosta,
Teräksestä tehko voijet, [tekosa]
Kipehille voitehiksi,
Mammoille valantehiksi.
Siteheksi Luojan silkki,
Herran pelsi peitteheksi,
Marian kalvo katteheksi,
Veäp päälle lemmen lehti,
Kulta ummisko kuleta,
Kulta lummet luikahuta,
Ettei maito maahan juokse,
Puna peltohon putoa,
Ylitte Jumalan luonnon,
Yli aivan autuvaan.
Lempi Jesuksen lihaa,
Pala Herran palliosta,
Tukkeheksi tuiman reijän,
Paikaksi pahan veräjän.
Ei oo löylyn löytämistä,
Lämpösen lähenemistä,
Pakkasen palelemista,
Kovan ilman koskemista, l
Veen viljan viertämistä,
Minun silmin nähtyäni,
Käsin päällä käytyäni,
Suin pyhin puheltuani,
Kourin kuomueltuani.

Tulen Synty.

Mis on tulta tuuviteltu,
Valkiata vaaputeltu?
Ylisessä taivosessa,
Alasessa maa-emässä.
Siell' on tulta tuviteltu.
Vaskisessa kätkyessä
Hopiaiset hihnat helkky.
Kokko kultanen kolasi,
Kirpposi tuli kipinä,
Poltti maan, poltti Manolan,
Poltti kuuen kirkkokunnan,
Poltti kuuen kuokan silmän,
Kahen kirvehen hamaran;
Meni reppänä retusen,
Rikko rinnat neitoselta,
Poltti lapsen kätkyestä;
Meni Aluenjärveen,
Nielipä Sini keräsen,
Huiksenteli, käyksenteli,
Tuossa tuskissa tulen,
Palavoissa valkioissa.
Tulipa sikiä siika,
Nielipä sini keräsen,
Huiksenteli, käyksenteli
Tuossa tuskissa tulen,
Palavoissa valkioissa.
Siika saarien sivutte,
Lohi luotoin lomahti.
Tulipa lohi punanen,
Nielipä silian siian,
Huiksenteli, käyksenteli
Tuossa tuskissa tulen,
Palavoissa valkioissa.
Lohi luotoin lomahti,
Siika saarien sivutte,
Tuossa tuskissa tulen,
Palavoissa valkioissa.
     *   *   *
Sisarekset sotkottaret,
Veljet verkkoa kutovat,
Yhtenä kesäissä yönä.
Saipa nuotan valmihiksi.
Veettiin kerran myötä vettä,
Ihveniä, Ahvenia,
Kaikkia veen kaloja.
Ei saatu sitä kaloa,
Mitä vasten nuotta tehty.
Toisen kerran vasta vettä,
Ihveniä, Ahvenia,
Kaikkia meren kaloja.
Ei saatu sitä kaloa,
Mitä vasten nuotta tehty.
Laski kolmannenkin kerran,
Puuttu nuotta puutoksehen;
Kivellenkö vai haolle,
Vaiko hauvin hartiolle,
Veen koiran koukku-luille?
Sano vanha Väinämöinen,
Tämä on hauvoin hartiolla.
Veen koiran koukku-luilla,
Ei ole käsin koskemista,
Ilman rauta rukkaisitta.
       *   *   *
Saipa hauvin veneeseensä,
Saipa hän halian hauvin,
Puhkasi halian hauvin,
Siin oli lohi punanen,
Puhkasi lohen punasen,
Siin' oli siliä siika,
Puhkasi silian siian,
Siin' oli sini keränen,
Puhkasi sini keräsen,
Siin' oli tuli kipunen.

Tulen Synty.

(Toisin.)

Iski tulta Ilmarinen,
Välkytteli Väinämöinen,
Elävällä ennuksella,
Kirjavalla kärmehellä.
Iski tulta kyntehensä,
Jälkytti jäsenihinsä,
Rahin rautasen nenässä,
Kultasen kammin päässä.
Kirposi tuli kipuna,
Läpi maan, läpi manalan,
Läpi reppäsen retusen, [lakeen reijän]
Läpi lasten kätkyestä,
Poltti parmaat emolta [rintapäät]
Poltti nännit neitoselta.
Niin emo enämmän tiesi:
Se tunsi tulen tumun,
Kekälehen kierätellen,
Kirposi tuli kipuna,
Pääll' lankes' aloen järven,
Niin tuli silia siika,
Nieli tuon tuli-kipunan.
Siitä uipi silia siika,
Niemen nientä, saaren saarta.
Joka niemi neuvon pisti,
Joka saari sai sanoman.
Sano siitä uituansa,
Ei ole veessä tässä,
Minun nielon nieliätä.
Niin tuli kumia kuuja [lohi]
Joll' on syönty sata syltä, [eli syöntö]
Kita kuuen kosken verta.
Niin nieli silian siian.
Niin uipi kumia kuuja,
Niemen nientä, saaren saarta.
Joka niemi neuvon pisti,
Joka saari sai sanoman.
Sano siitä uituansa:
Ei ole veessa tässä,
Minun nielon nieliätä.
     *   *   *
Pohettihin potkittihin,
Ei saatu kaloa siitä.
Veettiin vasta vettä,
Saatiin kaloa tuosta,
Jota vasten nuotta tehty.
Ukko kultanen kuningas,
Pihet pilvestä puota,
Vieri veitti taivosesta,
Pää kulta, terä hopea,
Pää pisi minun käessä,
Terä luojan kukkarossa,
Puhota lohi punanen.

Tulen Sanat.

Nunnus Ilman tyttäristä,
Höyhenes panuttaria!
Tuuvos hyytä pohjolasta,
Jäätä kylmästä kylästä,
Sillä hyyllä hyyvyttelen,
Jäällä tuolla jähyttelen.
Pistän hyyhyn hyppyseni,
Jäällä jähytän käteni,
Teen tulen tehottomaksi,
Valkian varattomaksi,
Humun huimelettomaksi,
Panun miehuettomaksi.
Panu parka, Tuonen poika
Kirnusi tulisen kirnun,
Säkeisin säihytteli,
Pukemisa puhtaisa,
Valkehisa vaateisa.

Nouse Neitonen norolta,
Vuotehelta hyisen pojan,
Jäisen lapsen lappiasta,
Veä viittasi vilusta,
Hamehensi hallan alta,
Heitä polville potovan,
Katovalle katteheksi,
Ettei poikasi palaisi,
Katovaisi kannettunsi,
Jonka on huntu huutehisa,
Iholiivi iljanteesa,
Paijan kaulus kalkkarasa.
Tuli kääri kertohisi,
Valkia ripasimisi,
Pukevihin puhtaisihin,
Valkeisiin vaattehisi
Nosta hyytä, nosta jäätä,
Nosta virrasta vilua,
Paikoille palanehille,
Vion tuiki tullehille.
Siell' on viljalta vilua,
Taäll' on vaivalta varia.

Mehiläinen ilman lintu,
Lennä tuonne, kunne käsken,
Yli kuun, alati päivän,
Otavain olkapäitti,
Lennä Luojan kellarihin,
Kamarihin kaikkivallan,
Pistä siipesi simahan,
Kasta kaapunsi metehen,
Hyrähytä höyhenensi,
Tuo simaa siivessäsi,
Kanna mettä kaavussasi,
Paikolle palanehille,
Tulen tuiki polttamille.

Anna Herra henkiäsi,
Suutasi sula Jumala;
Puhelen sulasta suusta.
Herran hengestä hyvästä.
Lämpimästä läihyttelen,
Vaikutan valantehestä.
Sinä ite Isä Jumala,
Tekkös vielä terveheksi,
Päivälle imanteheksi,
Kahen puolen kaunihiksi,
Vieriltä viattomaksi,
Keskiä kivuttomaksi,
Päältä nuurumattomaksi,
Alta aivan terveheksi.

Tuolla saunat lämpiävät,
Tuvat uuet tupruavat,
Ylisillä Jumalilla,
Alasilla maan Emoilla,
Tänne löylyt lyötäköhön,
Veet viskaheltakohon,
Tämän haavan hauteheksi,
Vammoille valanteheksi,
Kipeille voiteheksi,
Vioille paranteheksi.

Väinämöisen toimituksia.

Itse vanha Väinämöinen,
Teki tiiolla venettä,
Laati purtta laulamalla.
Uupu kolmea sanoa,
Parras puuta pannessahan,
Perä-kaarta liiteissä,
Kokkien kohentimillä.
Läksi Tuonelta oroa,
Manalalta vääntiötä;
Sitte huuti heijahutti:
"Tuos venettä Tuonen tytti,
Lauttoa Manalan lapsi!"
Tuonen tyttö se toruupi,
Kalmarimmet kalkuttaapi:
"Menet täältä tuotanehen,
Kuin syy sanottanehen.
Mikä sun Manalle saatto.
Ilman tauin tappamata,
Muun surman murentamata?"
"Vesi mun Manallen saatto."
"Tuosta tunnen Väinämöisen,
Tuon vanhan valehtelian;
Vesi vaatteistas valuisi,
Hurmehin hyvät sopasi."
"Jo vainen valehtelinkin."
Huhuoli heijahutti:
"Tuos venettä Tuonen tytti,
Lauttoa Manalan lapsi!"
Tuonen tyttö se toruuvi,
Kalman lapset kalkuttaapi:
"Mi siun Manallen saatto,
Ilman tauin tappamata,
Muun surman murentamata?"
"Tuli mun Manallen saatto,
Tuosta tunnen Väinämöisen,
Tuon vanhan valehtelian.
Tuli vaattehes valusi,
Hurmehin hyvät sopasi."
"Jo vainen valehtelinkin;
Täytyypä tosin sanoa,
Tein tiiolla venettä,
Uupu kolmea sanoa,
Parras puuta pannessani,
Perä kaartia liitteessäni.
Läksin Tuonelta oroa,
Manalalta vääntiötä."
Tuonen tyttö se toruupi,
Kalmarimmet kalkuttaapi:
"Paljon tänn' on tullehia,
Vähän täältä läksihiä."
Meni mustana merehen,
Kärmehenä kartanohon:
Et sieltä sanoa saanut.
Kivenä merehen vieri,
Sarana sarajahassa,
Saan tappo taimenia,
Tuhan emon alovehia:
Ei sieltä sanoa saanut.
Sano vanha Väinämöinen:
"Viikon on vironi maannut,[1]
Kauvon on kalkkini kaonnu,
Otsas on oravi kuuset,
Pääll' on kuuset kukka latvat,
Jalois' on jalot petäjät".
Kumo kuuset juuriltansa,
Pengo pehmiät petäjät.
Sai sieltä sanoja kaksi,
Kolmannenkin liiaitenkin,
Saipa purren valmihiksi,
Työntipä purren vesille,
Sata-laijan lainehillen,
Itse istui perähän,
Kokan kultasen nojahan,
Melan vaskisen varahan.

[1] Nimittäin Antero Vipunen, josta manitsee Runo Väinämöisen Veneen
teosta ensimmäisesä osasa.

Kalman Sanat.

Mene tuonne kunne käsken,
Uppunehen utimehen,
Vaipunehen vaipan alle,
Miehen kuollehen kotihin,
Katonehen karsinahan;
Siell'on luuta luitunutta,
Pää kasua kaatunutta,
Syyä miehen nälkähisen,
Haukata halun alaisen,
Tuonne ma sinun manoan
Meren Rutjan partahalle, j.n.e.

Tämän Runon loppu-sanat ovat samat kuin Ähkyn Sanoilla, jotka ovat
toisesa osasa.

Ummen ja lapsen Saajasen sanat.

Revi nyt ilma reppanoiksi,
Auvo taivas akkunoiksi,
Repäse emännän reisi,
Kotihisi mentyäsi;
Ota kiiskistä kinoa,
Matehista nuljakkata,
Purstosta lohen punasen
Aukase lihaiset salvat,
Lukut luiset loukahuta.

Kanteleen Synty.

(Toisin.)

Itse vanha Väinämöinen,
Läksi hevosen hakohon,
Kulo-Harjan kuuntelelohon,
Kuuli Neijen itkemässä,
Tuonne kengäta kepitti,
Ilman hamsi hattaratta.
"Mitä itket uusi pursi,
Venet hankanen halajat?"
"Sitä itken uusi pursi,
Venet hankanen halajan:
Muut purret sotia käyvät,
Minä lahon lastuillani,
Venyn vessamuksillani;
Ilkiämmät ilman linnut
Päälläni pesän pitävät,
Karkeimmat maan matoset,
Minun allani asuvat."
Työntipä venon vesille.
Sata-laijan lainehille,
Itse istui perään,
Kokan kultasen nojaan,
Melan vaskisen varaan.
Lauloa hyrehtilöövi,
Laulo laijan neitosia,
Tina-päitä neitosia,
Toisen laijan sulhasia,
Suka-päitä sulhasia.
Pani vanhat soutamahan,
Vanhat souvit, päät vapisit.
Pani nuoret soutamahan,
Nuoret souvit, airot notkut,
Nenä joiku joutsenena,
Airon pyyryt pyynnä vingut,
Tellot tetrinä kukerti,
Perä kraakku kaarnehina.
Souti päivän suovesiä,
Toisen päivän maa-vesiä,
Kolmannen koti-vesiä.
Puuttu venet puutoksehen,
Kivelläkö vaan havolla,
Vaiko hauvin hartiolla,
Veen koiran koukku-luilla.
Tuo oli vanha Väinämöinen,
Veti veitsen huotrastahan,
Vasemmalta puoleltahan.
Veti vettä veitsellähän,
Pää kaheksi palaksi,
Terä mullaksi mureni.
Mi ollon vanhin sulhaloista,
Tuota halki pahkomahan.
Saajan on kädet sulimmat,
Pyytäjän on puhtahimmat.
Laski Luotolan merelle,
Lohen luita sieltä otti,
Lohen luita, hauvin päitä,
Suuren hauvin hampahia;
Laitti soiton sorsan luisen.
Kalanluisen kantelehen.
Pani vanhat soittamahan,
Vanhat soitti, päät vapisit.
Pani nuoret soittamahan,
Nuoret soitit, naulat notkut,
Ei ilo ilolle tullu,
Eikä soitto soitannolle,
Eikä laulu laulanolle.
Ilo tuonne vietyöhön,
Kantelo kannettakohon
Miehen tehnehen käsille,
Sormille sovittelian.
Soitteleepi Väinämöinen
Käsin pienin, hoikin sormin,
Peukalo ylös keveni:
Itkit nuoret, itkit vanhat,
Itensäki Väinämöisen,
Veet vyöryit silmistähän,
Kaseammat karpaloita,
Pyyliämmät pyyn munia,
Häriämmät härjän päitä,
Reheille rinnoillehen,
Rinnoiltahan polvillehen.
Ei sitä metässä ollut,
Jalan neljän juoksevata,
Kahen siiven siuhkamata,
Jok' ei tullut kuulemahan,
Tehessä Isän iloa;
Itekkin metän emäntä,
Lepän lengolle levitti;
Ei sitä veessä ollut,
Evän kuuen kulkevata,
Jok' ei tullut kuulemahan;
Itsekkin veen emäntä,
Vetihin vesi-kivellen,
Tukkiahan tuuheloovi,
Hansiahan iharjeloovi.

Rukous, jolla Tapio (metän haltia) kutsuttiin.

Metsän eukko, kaunis karva,
Tuo itse metsän Tapio,
Pinneys Tapion poika,
Älä piä, älä pinnei!
Sinun on Ristus ristinnynnä,
Kaikkivalta kastanunna
Keskelle metsän kehoa:
Tule kuin tuli punainen
Viery kuin vesi kesäinen,
Keskelle kulta renkaiseni,
Avoimeen apajaiseeni.

Source Colophon

Finnish. From Zacharias Topelius (the Elder), Suomen Kansan Vanhoja Runoja ynnä myös Nykyisempiä Lauluja ("Old Songs of the Finnish People, together with Newer Songs and Lays"), Volume III, Turku: J. C. Frenckell & Son, 1826. Text prepared for Project Gutenberg (EBook #72841). The 1826 Finnish original is in the public domain.

Only the eleven Old Songs (Vanhoja Runoja) and the Preface (Lukioille) are reproduced here. The five "Newer Songs" (Nykyisempiä Lauluja) — social satire, ballads, and occasional poetry from the same volume — fall outside the folk tradition and are not included.

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