They were tears than peas much larger, 190
Then the eggs of grouse still rounder,
Larger than the heads of swallows.

From his eyes there fell the tear-drops,
Others followed after others,
Tears upon his cheeks were falling,
Down upon his cheeks so handsome,
Rolling from his cheeks so handsome,
Down upon his chin's expansion,
Rolling from his chin's expansion,
Down upon his panting bosom, 200
Rolling from his panting bosom,
Down upon his strong knee's surface,
Rolling from his strong knee's surface
Down upon his feet so handsome,
Rolling from his feet so handsome,
Down upon the ground beneath them,
And five woollen cloaks were soaking,
Likewise six of gilded girdles,
Seven blue dresses too were soaking,
And ten overcoats were soaking. 210

And the tear-drops still were falling,
From the eyes of Vaeinaemoeinen,
Till they reached the blue lake's margin,
Overflowed the blue lake's margin,
Down below the sparkling water,
To the black ooze at the bottom.

Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen
Spoke aloud the words which follow:
"Is there in this youthful party,
'Mid the young and fair here gathered, 220
'Mid these high-descended people,
Any darling child of father,
Who the tears I shed can gather,
From beneath the sparkling water?"

And the young folks gave him answer,
And the old folks likewise answered:
"There are none among the youthful,
In this young and fair assemblage,
'Mid these high-descended people,
Not a darling child of father, 230
Who the tears you shed can gather,
From beneath the sparkling water."

Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen,
Spoke again in words that follow:
"He who brings my tears unto me,
And the tears again can gather,
From beneath the sparkling waters,
Shall receive a dress of feathers."

Forth there came a raven passing;
Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen: 240
"Bring me now my tears, O raven,
From beneath the sparkling water,
And receive the dress of feathers."
But the raven could not do it.

And the blue duck heard him likewise,
And the blue duck next came forward.

Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen:
"Often, blue duck, does it happen
That thy beak thou plungest downward,