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
The Kalevide now decided on a journey north, to the uttermost end of
the world, where it touches the sky. He imagined that he could only
reach this point by sea, and thought at first of travelling on the
wings of an eagle. Meantime, a raven directed him, when he came to a
broad expanse of blue water, to look for a place where rushes grew on
the bank, and to stamp on the ground with his right foot, when the
mouth of the earth and the strongly guarded doors would fly open, and
he would reach the end of the world.
Then the Kalevide reflected how he had waded through every lake
and sea, and had found none too deep for him except Lake Ilma.
He then thought he would visit Finland, Norway, and the
islands, where he expected to find old friends to direct him on
his journey. So he directed Olev
[Pg 111]
to fell the great oak-tree which their father and mother had
planted, and which neither sun, moon, stars, nor rain, could
penetrate,
[82] and to make the strongest sailing vessels for exploring
voyages from the trunk, warships from the crown, merchantmen
from the large branches, slave-ships from the smaller ones,
children's boats from the splinters, and maiden's boats from
the chips. He ordered the remainder to be used for building
towns, fortresses, and houses for the people in various parts
of the country.
Olev replied, "I know what to do, dear brother, if we can find a strong
man in the country able to fell the oak-tree." The raven told them to
send out to seek for such a man, and they did so; whereupon the wise
men of Norway and Finland assembled to give them advice. But they told
the Kalevide that it was no use building a wooden ship to sail to the
world's end, for the spirits of the Northern Lights would set it in
flames. He must build a strong vessel of iron and copper and tin.
The Kalevide then constructed a vessel, not of
[Pg 112]
iron and copper, but of silver. The whole of the
ship—planking, deck, masts, and chains—was of silver, and he
named the vessel Lennuk.
[83] For himself he provided golden armour, silver for the
nobles, iron for the crew, copper for the old men, and steel
for the wise men.
The Kalevide selected experienced sailors and many wise men to
accompany him, and they set sail joyfully towards Finland; but soon
turned, and directed their course to the far north, in the direction of
the Great Bear.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account