[Footnote 34: Jannsen remarks that the _third_ strap would form a cross,
and that the _three_ straps might be an allusion to the Trinity.]

SECTION V

_STORIES OF THE GODS, AND SPIRITS OF THE ELEMENTS_

Vanemuine appears in the _Kalevala_, under his Finnish name of
Vaeinaemoeinen, as a culture-hero, though in the first recension of the
poem, as well as in most of the creation-myths of the Finns, the
creation is ascribed to him, and not to his mother, Ilmatar. He is,
however, always a great musician, and in Esthonian tales usually appears
rather in the character of a god than of a patriarch.

We read much of Vaeinaemoeinen's playing and singing in the _Kalevala_,
especially in Runo 46, where he charms all nature by his playing and
singing, like Orpheus. In Runo 50 he is described as leaving Finland on
account of his authority departing at the coming of Christ; though it is
said by an old writer that the favourite deities of the Finns in his
time were Vaeinaemoeinen and the Virgin Mary.

THE SONG-GOD'S DEPARTURE.

(JANNSEN.)

All living beings gathered round Vanemuine on the Hill of Taara, and
each received his language, according to what he could comprehend and
retain of the song of the god. The sacred stream Ema had chosen for her
language the rustling of his garments, but the trees of the forest chose
the rushing of his robes as he descended to the earth. Therefore do we
feel the presence of Vanemuine most nearly in the woods and on the banks
of the murmuring brooks, and then are we filled with the spirit of his
lays. The loudest tones are heard in the wind. Some creatures preferred
the deep tones of the god's harp, and others the melody of the strings.
The singing birds, especially the nightingale and the lark, deemed the
holy songs and melodies of the god to be the most beautiful. But it
fared very badly with the fishes. They stretched their heads out of the
water to the eyes, but kept their ears under. So they saw well how
Vanemuine moved his lips, and they imitated him, but they remained dumb.
Only man could learn all notes and understand everything; therefore his
song moves the soul most deeply, and lifts it towards the throne of God.
Vanemuine sang of the grandeur of heaven and the beauty of earth, of the
banks of the Ema and her beauty, and of the joy and sorrow of the
children of men. And his song was so moving that he himself began to
weep bitterly, and the tears sank through his sixfold