hat you lately
insulted me respecting the misfortunes which I endured through your
crime; but you cannot remain in my kingdom any longer. You must pack up
your goods this very day, and quit my city before sundown. An escort
will accompany you to the frontier. But beware lest you ever set foot
again in my territories, for any man, even the meanest, has leave to
kill you like a mad dog. Your daughters, who are also the daughters of
my honoured father, may remain here, for they are innocent of the crimes
which rest upon your soul."

Now that the queen-dowager was banished, the young king built two pretty
houses near his city, one of which he assigned to the parents of his
bride, and the other to his own foster-father, who had so carefully
brought up the helpless prince. The prince who had grown up as a
herd-boy and his low-born bride lived happily to the end, and ruled
their subjects with as much affection as parents their children.

* * * * *

The story of Tiidu[154] the Flute-player introduces us to a mysterious
old man, and is therefore given a place after the narrative of the
stolen prince. It contains many points of interest, including the
cosmopolitan incident of the Nose-tree (which, however, some critics
suggest is probably a recent addition); but it is long and tedious in
the original, and therefore only an abstract is given here.

[Footnote 151: Compare pages 246 and 248.]

[Footnote 152: The word translated "lout" means literally
"filthy-nose."]

[Footnote 153: In the _Kalevala_, Runo 33, Kullervo revenges himself in
the same manner upon the wife of Ilmarinen, whom he has been serving as
herd-boy, and who has treated him with great cruelty and harshness.]

[Footnote 154: Titus.]

TIIDU THE FLUTE-PLAYER.

A poor man with a large family had among them a lazy useless son who
would do nothing but play tunes on a willow-pipe. One day a strange old
man passed by, and asked what trade he would prefer. He replied that he
would like to be rich and independent. The old man advised him to make
use of the gift he had, and to earn money enough by playing on his
willow-flute to buy a flute.[155] So Tiidu left his home without telling
his parents of his intention, but they were glad enough to be rid of
him. He wandered from village to village till he had earned enough money
to buy a good flute, and in a few years he became a famous and
prosperous flute-player. But his avarice l