d besought thee all the summer,
Likewise in the spring have cautioned,
At the second springtide sowing,
To construct a secret dwelling,
With the windows small and hidden,
Where the maids may do their weaving,
And may work their looms in safety, 480
All unheard by Suomi's gallants,
Suomi's gallants, country lovers."

From the floor the child made answer,
And the fortnight-old responded:
"Easily a horse is hidden
In the stall, with fine-tailed horses;
Hard it is to hide a maiden,
And to keep her long locks hidden.
Though you build of stone a castle,
And amid the sea shall rear it, 490
Though you keep your maidens in it,
And should rear your darlings in it,
Still the girls cannot be hidden,
Nor attain their perfect stature,
Undisturbed by lusty gallants,
Lusty gallants, country lovers.
Mighty men, with lofty helmets,
Men who shoe with steel their horses."

Then the aged Vainamoinen
Head bowed down, and deeply grieving: 500
Wandered on his journey homeward,
And he spoke the words which follow:
"Woe is me, a wretched creature,
That I did not learn it sooner,
That In youthful days one weddeth,
And must choose a life-companion.
All thing else a man may grieve for,
Save indeed an early marriage,
When in youth already children,
And a household he must care for." 510

Thus did warn old Vainamoinen,
Cautioned thus Suvantolainen,
That old men against the younger,
Should not struggle for a fair one:
Warned them not to swim too proudly,
Neither try to race in rowing,
Nor to seek to woo a maiden,
With a younger man contending.

RUNO XX.--THE GREAT OX, AND THE BREWING OF THE ALE

_Argument_

An enormous ox is slaughtered in Pohjola (1-118). They brew ale and
prepare a feast (119-516). They dispatch messengers to invite the heroes
to the wedding, but Lemminkainen is expressly passed over (517-614).

How shall we our song continue,
And what legends shall we tell you?
Thus will we pursue our story;
These the legends we will tell you;
How in Pohjola they feasted,
And the drinking-bout was Godlike.

Long prepared they for the wedding,
For the feast provided all things,
In the household famed of Pohja,
Halls of Sariola the misty. 10