The Hero of Esthonia and Other Studies in the Romantic Literature of That CountryKirby, W. F. (William Forsell)
History
The Hero of Esthonia and Other Studies in the Romantic Literature of That Country
Kirby, W. F. (William Forsell)
Estonian literature; Estonian literature -- History and criticism
But the Kalevide answered that he could have his will without
the wishing-rod and cap, which were only fit for witches and
wizards. So the maiden, who was anxious to convince him of the
value of the treasures which he despised, took down the hat
from its peg. It was made of the cuttings of finger-nails,
[71] and she declared that there was not
[Pg 92]
another like it in the world, for it could fulfil every desire
of its possessor. So she put it on her head and said—
"Raise thee, raise thee, golden
[72] maiden,
Blue-eyed maiden, raise thee, raise thee,
Like unto the son of Kalev,
Like unto thy friend in stature."
She began at once to grow taller, ell after ell, till she grew fully as
tall as the son of Kalev himself.
Then the Kalevide took the hat from her head and set it on his
own, wishing to become as small as she had been. His stature
immediately sank, ell after ell, till he was reduced to the
size of an ordinary man.
[73] The young giantess took back the hat, and wished to resume
her former stature, which accordingly befell.
The Kalevide then said to the maiden that he would willingly
remain a little boy that day for her sake, but he was now
anxious to keep the hat, that he
[Pg 93]
might at once resume his own stature and strength in case of
any sudden and unexpected danger. They sang and danced and
sported to their heart's content, and the maiden called her
second sister, whose duty it was to polish the gold, silver,
and copper ware; and her third sister, who tended the geese on
the common; and the sisters locked and bolted the kitchen
door, for fear the old woman should hear the noise and come to
disturb their merriment.
The maidens were delighted, for though the Kalevide declared
that he could not think of marrying a wife himself, he would
deliver them from Hades next day, and would marry one to the
son of Alev, one to the son of Sulev, and one to the
cup-bearer.
[74] So they played all sorts of games; the falcon-game, in
which the hero was the falcon, and they were the birds;
kiss-in-the-ring, blind man's buff, &c. But whatever they
played at, the hero always got the best of the game. When they
were tired of this amusement, they put out all the lights.
[Pg 94]
CANTO XIV
THE PALACE OF SARVIK
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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