d men pondered,
Whether they would make a capture,
And secure the fish they wished for.

Then they drew the net and dragged it,
Much they toiled, and threshed the water,
Drew it lengthwise through the water,
Dragged it crosswise through the water,
Captured many little fishes,
Many luckless perch they captured, 80
Many bony perch they captured,
And a large-galled Redeye likewise,
But the fish they could not capture
That for which the net was fashioned.

Said the aged Vaeinaemoeinen,
"O thou smith, O Ilmarinen,
Let us now go forth together
Where the net is in the water."

Thereupon went both the heroes,
And they drew it through the water, 90
And upon one side they spread it
Round the islands in the water,
And the other side directed,
Round about the promontories,
And the balance-pole was guided
Just as aged Vaeinoe pushed it.

Thus they cast the net and pushed it,
And they drew the net and dragged it,
Captured fishes in abundance,
And they captured perch in plenty, 100
Salmon-trout in great abundance,
Bream and salmon too they captured,
All the fishes of the water,
Only not the fish they sought for,
That for which the net was woven,
And the ropes were fastened to it.

Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen
Worked to make the net yet longer,
Wider yet the sides expanded,
Perhaps five hundred fathoms broader, 110
Netted full seven hundred fathoms,
And he spoke the words which follow:
"To the depths the nets we'll carry,
And will now extend them further,
Once again will drag the water,
Thus another cast attempting."

To the depths the nets they carried,
Further did they then convey them,
And again they dragged the water,
Thus another cast attempting. 120

Then the aged Vaeinaemoeinen
Spoke aloud the words which follow:
"Vellamo, O Water-Mother,
Old one with the lavish bosom,
Do thou change the shift upon thee,
Do thou change thy dress completely,
For thou hast a shift of rushes,
On thy head a cap of lake-foam,
Fashioned by the Wind's fair daughter,
Which the billows' daughter gave thee. 130
Now assume a shift of linen,
Of the finest flax that's woven,
Which by Kuutar has been woven,
Paeivae