heir skill by singing. Invited to sing first,
Wainamoinen chanted a set of commonplace axioms; but when Youkahainen
imitated him, the ancient minstrel challenged his guest to sing of
creation or philosophy. Although Youkahainen now claimed he and seven
other primeval heroes saw how the earth was fashioned, how the sky was
arched, and how the silvery moon and golden sun were set in position,
Wainamoinen termed him prince of liars and averred he was not present
at the creation as he claimed. This contradiction so enraged
Youkahainen that he offered to fight, but, instead of accepting this
challenge, Wainamoinen sang a magic song of such power that it
resolved Youkahainen's sled and harness to their primitive components,
and caused him to sink ever deeper into quicksands which finally rose
to his very lips. Realizing his desperate plight, Youkahainen implored
Wainamoinen to cease his enchantments, offering as a ransom for his
life all manner of magic gifts which Wainamoinen scorned. In fact, it
was only when the culprit promised him the hand of his sister Aino
that the ancient minstrel reversed his spell, and not only released
Youkahainen, but restored to him all his possessions.

The defeated bard now returns to Lapland, and on arriving there
smashes his sledge in token of anger. His parents wonderingly question
him, and, on learning he has promised his sister's hand in marriage to
the magician Wainamoinen, they are delighted that she should marry so
influential a man, although the maiden herself mourns because all
pleasures are to be taken from her forever.

_Rune IV._ While out in the forest gathering birch shoots for brooms,
this maiden soon after is seen by Wainamoinen, who bids her adorn
herself for her wedding, whereupon she petulantly casts off the
ornaments she wears and returns home weeping without them. When her
parents inquire what this means, Aino insists she will not marry the
old magician, until her mother bribes her by the offer of some
wonderful treasures, bestowed by the Daughter of the Sun and Moon, and
which until now have been hidden in the depths of the earth.

Although decked in these magnificent adornments, the girl wanders
around the fields, wishing she were dead, for marriage has no
attractions for her and she is not anxious to become an old man's
bride. Stealing down to the sea-shore, she finally lays aside her
garments and ornaments and swims to a neighboring rock, where she no
sooner perches