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The Hero of Esthonia and Other Studies in the Romantic Literature of That CountryKirby, W. F. (William Forsell)

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The Hero of Esthonia and Other Studies in the Romantic Literature of That Country

Name: The Hero of Esthonia and Other Studies in the Romantic Literature of That Country
Author: Kirby, W. F. (William Forsell)

Kirby, W. F. (William Forsell)

Estonian literature; Estonian literature -- History and criticism

What beneath the sea was shining?

                [Pg 35]

                From the sea a sword shone golden,

                In the waves a spear of silver,

                From the sand a copper crossbow.

                Then to grasp the sword she hastened,

                And to seize the spear of silver,

                And to lift the copper crossbow.

                Then there came a man to meet her;

                'Twas an aged man of copper;
                [40]

                On his head a helm of copper;

                Wearing, too, a shirt of copper;

                Round his waist a belt of copper;

                On his hands were copper gauntlets;

                On his feet were boots of copper;

                In his belt were copper buckles,

                And the buckles chased with copper;

                Copper was his neck and body,

                And his face and eyes were copper.

                And the copper man demanded:

                "In the sea what seeks the maiden,

                Singing thus amid the waters,

                She, a dove
                [41] among the fishes?"

                And the maiden heard and hearkened,

                And the little duck made answer:

                [Pg 36]

                "To the sea I went to rock me,

                And amid the waves to carol;

                And I saw the sword that glittered,

                And the spear of silver shining,

                And the copper crossbow gleaming.

                And to grasp the sword I hastened,

                And to seize the spear of silver,

                And to lift the copper crossbow."

                Then the copper man made answer,

                With his copper tongue he answered:

                "'Tis the sword of son of Kalev,

                And the spear is son of Alev's,

                And the crossbow son of Sulev's.

                On the bed of ocean guarded,

                Here the man of copper keeps them,

                Of the golden sword the guardian,

                Guardian of the spear of silver,

                Guardian of the copper crossbow."

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Hero of Esthonia and Other Studies in the Romantic Literature of That Country

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