The legend about the wizard Vyainyameinenen and Youkhainenen

The wizard Vainyameinenen called the Firm lived in Finland in the period of early epoch of wizards. Legends say that Vainyameinenen was conceived by wind, waves and Finland the Maid, when she was sailing at the pristine sea. He had had to spend thirty years in his mother's womb, before he was born and became the most powerful wizard of his land. He was the defender and preceptor for the folks living nearby. He used songs for his magic. After finishing his adventures the great and powerful wizard started on his journey in a copper boat to the land located between the sky and the earth, far from his home.

Once upon a time, long-long ago, at the beginning of everything, horsed sledge was moving through the wastes of Finland along the path, going around the sparkling lakes. Meandering road was leading to the dark pine forests, where wolfs were howling. The old man with thick brows and gray beard was firmly holding the reins. It was the wizard Vainyameinenen the Firm.

Time after time the old man looked at the wall of the forest standing far away in the north border of the waste. He noticed only one moving thing - a tiny spot on the white snow. The hours passed. The spot grew and took the shape of the horsed sledge, flying as if it was harnessed with wind.

The wizard strained the reins. But the stranger's sledge crashed on him with the crack, skid hitched on. Horses were neighing and stamping, steam was rising from their croups. Men were trying to restrain horses. After that short silence followed. Vainyameinenen dispassionately looked the stranger over and asked the name of his clan. The answer contained insult and challenge. Black-beard young man was Youkhainenen, and he, having left Lapland, was traveling over northern wastes. The wanderer heard about the old wizard power, knew that he could animate things with magic songs, talked with eagles and called water spirits. Old man's songs made even gloomy waste bloom. Filled with arrogance, Youkhainenen came here to bewitch him, to sing a song which would turn the old man into snow, and after that took place of the great sage of the North. The old man listened to him and after that started talking.

- Tell me what you know, - asked he.

Youkhainenen started singing together with wind, composing the song, which could prove that a young man possesses wizard's knowledge of things happening in the world. However, he sang only about things lying on the surface and his knowledge didn't exceed the knowledge of a child. He was telling that flame lived near fireplace, that chimneys were on the roofs, and that people plough the land with the help of horses on the South, and with the help of deer on the North. He was singing about the most common things: methods of fishing, farmers skills and peculiarities of soil.

- Tell about deeper essences, - suggested the old man.

The young man's voice became stronger and deeper. He was singing about the origins. He claimed that he ploughed the sea, supported the dome of the sky, guided the moon, threw the stars to the skies and arranged them into constellations.

- You are lying - said Vainyameinenen evenly. Youkhainenen was offended and suggested crossing the swords. But the old wizard refused. Youkhainenen replied with threaten:

- If you, old man, don't fight with me, I will sing the song and it will turn you into a dirty pig, digging in a mud!

This time Vainyameinenen got angry. He raised his head and started singing. Powerful, strident tunes began to flow from the skies and the earth shuddered. Mountains quivered, lakes burst the banks, and huge rocks went to pieces.

It was only the beginning. Singing on, the old man turned to Youkhainenen. Youkhainenen's curved pole got covered with twigs, wonderful carriage turned into a logs, which rolled down to the lake. Embroidered horsewhip turned into a brittle thin reed. The horse turned into a rock over the waterfall. Youkhainenen's golden sword burst with flash and the arrows spread wings and flew into the sky. His clothes dropped from him on the earth, or flew away in the sky like kites. Naked and frozen Youkhainenen felt that he is sinking into swampy soil.

Vainyameinenen continued his ruthless song, and Youkhainenen's legs, hard like stones, were pulling him down. At last cold soil closed down his shoulders, and Youkhainenen felt not very strong but horrible jerk down. Great fear filled his soul and he beseeched the old man: - Great Wizard! Show mercy and save my life! Let me pay ransom!

Both the song and immersion into soil stopped at once.

- And what can you give me? - asked the sage.

Youkhainenen offered wonderful arbalests but Vainyameinenen didn't need them. The boy offered quick boats and fast horses but the old man had all these enough. Youkhainenen mentioned silver, but the wizard had it enough too. The Laplander offered the fields belonging to him, but the old man wasn't interested in them. He started singing again and Youkhainenen went on sinking down.


When the soil was close to his mouth, Youkhainenen offered to the wizard his young sister Aino.


Vainyameinenen stopped singing and began to think. The offer was worthy, he didn't have it! Besides, a beautiful girl, who is able to relieve the old man loneliness is and adequate ransom for the insult. Vainyameinenen agreed. He sat down and sang something trice. This song pulled Youkhainenen out of the bog, brought back his clothes, got his sledge from the lake and his horse from the rock.


So Youkhainenen stay alive, having paid for it with his sister.