combat;
But it suits not my position,
Nor to me myself is suited, 230
Thus to woo a bride all golden,
Or distress myself for silver."

Then dissuaded Vaeinaemoeinen,
And forbade the wave-sprung hero,
All the rising generation,
Likewise those upgrown already,
For the sake of gold to bow them,
Or debase themselves for silver,
And he spoke the words which follow,
And in words like these expressed him: 240
"Never, youths, however wretched,
Nor in future, upgrown heroes,
Whether you have large possessions,
Or are poor in your possessions,
In the course of all your lifetime,
While the golden moon is shining,
May you woo a golden woman,
Or distress yourselves for silver,
For the gleam of gold is freezing,
Only frost is breathed by silver." 250

RUNO XXXVIII.--ILMARINEN'S NEW BRIDE FROM POHJOLA

_Argument_

Ilmarinen goes to Pohjola to woo the younger sister of his first wife,
but as he receives only insulting words in reply, he becomes angry,
seizes the maiden, and starts on his homeward journey (1-124). On the
way the maiden treats Ilmarinen with contempt, and provokes him till he
changes her into a seagull (125-286). When Ilmarinen comes home, he
relates to Vaeinaemoeinen how the inhabitants of Pohjola live free from
care since they possessed the Sampo; and also tells him how badly his
wooing has prospered (287-328).

Thereupon smith Ilmarinen,
He the great primeval craftsman,
Cast away the golden image,
Cast away the silver damsel,
Afterwards his horse he harnessed,
Yoked before the sledge the chestnut,
On the sledge himself he mounted,
And within the sledge he sat him,
And departed on his journey,
And proposed, as he was driving, 10
He to Pohjola would travel,
There to ask another daughter.

So he drove for one day onward,
Journeyed also on the second,
And at length upon the third day,
Came to Pohjola's broad courtyard.

Louhi, Pohjola's old Mistress
Came into the yard to meet him,
And began the conversation,
And she turned to him and asked him 20
How her child's health was at present,
If her daughter was contented,
As the daughter-in-law of master,
And the daughter-in-law of mistress.

Thereupon smith Ilmarinen,
Head bowed down, an