very aged woman.

Now will I abandon Kauko,
Long from out my song will leave him;
But he showed the way to Tiera,
Sent him on his homeward journey.
Now my song aside will wander,
While I turn to other matters. 500

RUNO XXXI.--UNTAMO AND KULLERVO

_Argument_

Untamo wages war against his brother Kalervo, overthrows Kalervo and his
army, sparing only a single pregnant woman of the whole clan. She is
carried away to Untamo's people, and gives birth to her son Kullervo
(1-82). Kullervo resolves in his cradle to take revenge on Untamo, and
Untamo attempts several times to put him to death, but without success
(83-202). When Kullervo grows up, he spoils all his work, and therefore
Untamo sells him as a slave to Ilmarinen (203-374).

'Twas a mother reared her chickens,
Large the flock of swans she nurtured;
By the hedge she placed the chickens,
Sent the swans into the river,
And an eagle came and scared them,
And a hawk that came dispersed them,
And a flying bird dispersed them.
One he carried to Carelia,
Into Russia bore the second,
In its home he left the third one. 10

Whom the bird to Russia carried
Soon grew up into a merchant;
Whom he carried to Carelia,
Kalervo was called by others,
While the third at home remaining,
Bore the name of Untamoinen,
For his father's lifelong anguish,
And his mother's deep affliction.

Untamoinen laid his netting
Down in Kalervo's fish-waters: 20
Kalervoinen saw the netting,
In his bag he put the fishes.
Untamo of hasty temper
Then became both vexed and angry,
And his fingers turned to battle,
With his open palms he urged it,
Making strife for fishes' entrails,
And for perch-fry made a quarrel.

Thus they fought and thus contended,
Neither overcame the other, 30
And though one might smite the other,
He himself again was smitten.

At another time it happened,
On the next and third day after,
Kalervoinen oats was sowing,
Back of Untamoinen's dwelling.

Sheep of Untamo most reckless
Browsed the oats of Kalervoinen,
Whereupon his dog ferocious
Tore the sheep of Untamoinen. 40

Untamo began to threaten
Kalervo, his very brother;
Kalervo's race vowed to slaughter,
Smite the gr