me of toad disgusting,
From Syoejaetaer's filthy spittle,
Formed from this a twisting serpent,
To a black snake he transformed it.

"Whence the life he gave unto it?
Life he brought from Hiisi's coal-heap. 730
Whence was then its heart created?
Out of Syoejaetaer's own heartstrings.
Whence the brains for this foul creature?
From a mighty torrent's foaming.
Whence its sense obtained the monster?
From a furious cataract's foaming.
Whence a head, this foul enchantment?
From the bean, a bean all rotten.
Whence were then its eyes created?
From a seed of flax of Lempo. 740
Whence were the toad's ears created?
From the leaves of Lempo's birch-tree.
Whence was then its mouth constructed?
Syoejaetaer's own mouth supplied it.
Whence the tongue in mouth so evil?
From the spear of Keitolainen.
Teeth for such an evil creature?
From the beard of Tuoni's barley.
Whence its filthy gums created?
From the gums of Kalma's maiden. 750
Whence was then its back constructed?
Of the coals of fire of Hiisi.
Whence its wriggling tail constructed?
From the plaits of Pahalainen.
Whence its entrails were constructed?
These were drawn from Death's own girdle.

"This thy origin, O serpent,
This thy honour, as reported;
Black snake from the world infernal,
Serpent of the hue of Tuoni, 760
Hue of earth, and hue of heather,
All the colours of the rainbow.
Go from out the wanderer's pathway,
From before the travelling hero,
Yield the pathway to the traveller,
Make a way for Lemminkainen
To the feast at Pohja holden,
Where they hold the great carousal."

Then the snake obeyed his orders,
And the hundred-eyed drew backward, 770
And the great snake twisted sideways,
Turning in a new direction,
Giving thus the traveller pathway,
Making way for Lemminkainen
To the feast at Pohja holden,
And the secret-held carousal.

RUNO XXVII.--THE DUEL AT POHJOLA

_Argument_

Lemminkainen comes to Pohjola and behaves with the greatest insolence
(1-204). The Lord of Pohjola grows angry, and as he can do nothing
against Lemminkainen by magic, he challenges him to a duel (205-282). In
the course of the duel Lemminkainen strikes off the head of the Lord of
Pohjola, and to aven