--- title: The Caldron — The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North · full text with trees description: The Caldron, «The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North» by James Baldwin: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: All through the long and dreary winter, Ilmarinen waited idly by old Louhi’s hearth-side. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/10/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old No…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/) / The Caldron # The Caldron The Caldron of «The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North» by James Baldwin: the whole text, 142 sentences and 2541 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. All through the long and dreary winter, Ilmarinen waited idly by old Louhi’s hearth-side.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") “No great thing in magic can be done in stormy weather,” he said.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") “Summer and fair days of sunshine are the wizard’s time for action.”[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") The wise men of the North Land came often to see him.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") Herdsmen from the frozen meadows, savage fellows from the forest, fishermen from the icy inlets—these also came to hear the words of the wizard Smith and be taught by him.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") They came on snowshoes and in reindeer sledges, battling with the wintry storm winds and heeding not the cold.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") Singly and by twos and threes they came and squatted round Dame Louhi’s fireplace, rubbing their hands together, warming their shins, and staring into the face of the marvellous stranger.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") And Ilmarinen sat in their midst and told them many tales of wonder, chiefly tales of his own rare skill and cunning.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") He told them how he had broken the mountains with his hammer, how he had conquered wild Iron and imprisoned him in his smithy, and how, from a single lump of metal, he had hammered out the sky and set it up as a lid to cover the land and the sea.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") “All these things,” said he, “were done by me—me, the prince of smiths, me, the skilfulest of men.”[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") Then all his listeners, wise men, herdsmen, fishermen, wild men, looked at him with awe and admiration.[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") They drew up closer to the fire, they threw fresh logs into the flames, they turned their faces towards him and asked a thousand curious questions.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") “Who painted the sky and gave it its blue and friendly color?” asked the wise men.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") “I painted it—I, the first of smiths,” answered Ilmarinen.[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") “And when I swept my brush across from east to west, some drops of blue fell into the sea and colored it also.”[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") “What are the stars that glitter so brightly above us when the nights are clear?” asked the herdsmen.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") “They are the sparks from my forge,” was the answer.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") “I caught them and fixed them securely in their places; I welded them into the vast sky-lid so they should never fall out nor fly away.”[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") “Where is the home of the Great Pike, the mightiest of all the creatures that swim in the water?” asked the fishermen.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") “The Great Pike lurks in the hidden places of the deep sea,” said Ilmarinen; “for he knows that I have forged a hook of iron that will some day be the cause of his undoing.”[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") “Ah! ah! ah!” muttered the wild men.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") Their mouths were open and their eyes were staring at the rafters where hung long rows of smoked salmon, slabs of bacon, and dried herbs of magic power.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") “Ah! ah! ah\![23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") What shall we do when we are hungry and there are no nuts to be gathered, no roots to be digged, no small beasts to be captured, no food of any kind?[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") Ah! ah! ah!”[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") “Forget to-day, think only of to-morrow—for then there will be plenty,” answered Ilmarinen.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") “Go back to your old haunts in the forest, and to-morrow I will send you so many nuts and roots and small beasts that you shall grow fat with the eating of them.”[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus, all through the wintry weather, Ilmarinen dispensed wisdom to the inquiring men who desired it, and there was no question which he could not answer, no want which he could not satisfy.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") And at length, when every mind was filled with knowledge, and every stomach with food from Dame Louhi’s bountiful stores, the visitors departed.[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") Singly, or by twos and threes, in sledges, on snowshoes, on foot, they returned to their respective haunts and homes.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") “We have seen him, and there is nothing more to be desired,” they said.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") And now the snow was melting, the grass was green on the hillsides, the reeds were springing up in the marshes, and the birds were twittering under the eaves.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") Forthwith, brave Ilmarinen sallied out to find a smithy.[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") Ten men, willing and strong, followed him, prepared to do any sort of labor, to undergo any sort of privation.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") Long did he seek, and far and wide did he travel, and many were the vain inquiries which he made; but nowhere in all the Frozen Land could he discover forge or chimney, bellows or tongs, anvil or hammer.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") In that dismal, snowy country men had never needed iron; they had no tools save tools of fish-bone; they had no weapons save sticks and stones and fists and feet.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") What wonder, then, that they had no smithy?[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") Some men would have given up in despair, but not so Ilmarinen.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") “Women may lose their courage,” he said; “fools may give up a task because it is hard; but heroes persevere, wizards and smiths conquer.”[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") So, still followed by his serving-men, he set out to find a fit place in which to build a smithy.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") For nine days he sought—yes, for ten long summer days he wandered over the brown meadows and among the gloomy hills of Pohyola.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") At length, deep in the silent forest he found a great stone all streaked and striped in colors of the rainbow.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") “This is the place,” he said, never doubting; and he gave orders to build his smithy there.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") The first day’s task was to build the furnace and the forge with yawning mouth and towering chimney.[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") On the second day he framed the bellows and covered it with stout reindeer hide.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") On the third he set up his anvil, a block of hardest granite heavy for ten men to roll.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he made his tools.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") For a hammer he took a smooth stone from the brook; for tongs he cut a green sapling and bent it in the middle, forcing the two ends together.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus his smithy was completed; but how was he to forge the magic Sampo?[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") With what was he to form its iridescent lid?[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") “Only weaklings say, ‘I cannot,’” said he.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") “Only want-wits say, ‘It is too difficult.’[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") Heroes never give up.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") Nothing is impossible to a true smith.”[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") Then from a secret pocket he drew the things most needful for his forging.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") He counted them over, giving to each a magic number—two tips of white swan feathers, a bottle of milk from a young red heifer, a grain of barley grown in a land beyond the sea, and the fleece of a lambkin not one day old.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") These he mixed in a magic caldron, throwing upon them many bits of precious metals, with strange wild herbs and rank poisons and sweet honey dew.[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") And all the while, he kept muttering harshly the spells and charms which none but smiths and skilful wizards understand.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") At length the mixture was completed.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") Ilmarinen set the caldron firmly in the furnace, he pushed it far into the yawning cavern.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he kindled the fire, he heaped on fuel, he closed the furnace door and bade the serving-men set the bellows to blowing.[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") Tirelessly the ten men toiled, taking turns, five by five, at the mighty lever.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") Like the fierce North Wind sweeping over the hills and rushing through the piney forest, the heaving bellows roared.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") The flames leaped up and filled the furnace and the forge.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") The black smoke poured from the chimney and rose in cloudlike, inky masses to the sky.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") Ilmarinen heaped on more fuel, he opened the draughts of the furnace, he danced like a madman in the light of the flames, he shouted strange words of magic meaning.[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus, for three long summer days and three brief summer nights, the fire glowed and the furnace roared and the men toiled and watched unceasingly.[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") And round about the feet of the workmen lichens and leafy plants grew up, and in the crannies of the rocks wild flowers bloomed, nourished by the warmth from the magic forge.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") On the fourth day, the wizard Smith bade the workmen pause while he stooped down and looked into the caldron far within the fire-filled furnace.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") He wished to see whether anything had begun to shape itself from the magic mixture, whether anything had been brought forth by the mighty heat.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") As he looked, lo! a crossbow rose from out the caldron—a crossbow, perfect in form and carved with figures fantastical and beautiful.[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") On each side it was inlaid with precious gold, and the tips were balls of silver.[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") The shaft was made of copper, and the whole bow was wondrously strong.[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") “This is a beautiful thing,” said Ilmarinen, “but it is not the Sampo.”[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") Forthwith the crossbow leaped from the caldron; it flew out of the furnace; it stood humbly bowing before the wizard Smith.[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") “Hail, my master!” it said.[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") “Here I am, ready to serve you as you command.[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") My task is to kill, and I love it, I love it\![78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") Send me forth quickly, and let me begin.[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") On every work-day I’ll kill at least one.[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") On every holiday I’ll kill more—sometimes two, and sometimes very many.[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") Oh, yes, I will kill, I will kill!”[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") “What will you kill?” asked Ilmarinen.[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") “In war, men; in peace, singing birds and timid deer.[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") Oh, I can kill, I can kill!”[85](85/ "tree and pragmatics") And having said this, the crossbow began to shoot arrows recklessly about to the great peril of the ten serving-men.[86](86/ "tree and pragmatics") This made Ilmarinen angry.[87](87/ "tree and pragmatics") “You are bad!” he cried.[88](88/ "tree and pragmatics") “You love only evil.[89](89/ "tree and pragmatics") I have no use for you!” and he seized the bow and threw it back into the boiling caldron.[90](90/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he bade the workmen blow the bellows as before; and he heaped on more fuel and more fuel, singing meanwhile a wild, weird song which made the flames leap out from the very top of the chimney.[91](91/ "tree and pragmatics") All day, all night, the bellows roared; all day again, and again all night, the furnace glowed, white-hot, and furious.[92](92/ "tree and pragmatics") Then, just at sunrise, the Smith called to the bellows-men, “Halt!”[93](93/ "tree and pragmatics") He stooped down and gazed steadfastly, curiously, into the magic caldron.[94](94/ "tree and pragmatics") As the flames subsided and the furnace began to grow cool, behold a ship rose from the mixture—a ship complete with pointed beak and oars and sails, all ready to be launched upon the sea.[95](95/ "tree and pragmatics") Its hull was painted blue and yellow, its ribs were golden, its prow was of copper, and its sails were of white linen whereon were depicted most wonderful figures of dragons and savage beasts; and on its deck and within its hold were all manner of weapons of war—axes and spears, bows and arrows, sharp daggers and gleaming swords.[96](96/ "tree and pragmatics") “Here I am, my master!” said the ship.[97](97/ "tree and pragmatics") “I am ready for your service, if you please.[98](98/ "tree and pragmatics") You see that I am well fitted for war, well fitted to plunder and rob the seaports of other lands.[99](99/ "tree and pragmatics") Send me out, that I may help you slay your enemies and make your name a terror throughout the world.”[100](100/ "tree and pragmatics") The wizard Smith drew the ship toward him.[101](101/ "tree and pragmatics") Beautiful and well-laden though it was, he was by no means pleased with it.[102](102/ "tree and pragmatics") “I like you not!” he cried.[103](103/ "tree and pragmatics") “You are a destroyer and not a builder.[104](104/ "tree and pragmatics") You love evil, and I will have no part nor parcel of you,” and he broke the ship into a thousand pieces, and threw the fragments back into the caldron.[105](105/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he bade the serving-men blow the bellows with all their might, while he heaped fresh fuel upon the flames and sang wild songs of wizardry and enchantment.[106](106/ "tree and pragmatics") On the fourth morning Ilmarinen looked again into the caldron.[107](107/ "tree and pragmatics") “Surely something good has been formed by this time,” he said.[108](108/ "tree and pragmatics") From the caldron a mist was slowly rising, hot, pungent, fog-like; within it, the magic mixture could be heard bubbling, seething, hissing.[109](109/ "tree and pragmatics") The Smith looked long ere he could see what was forming.[110](110/ "tree and pragmatics") Then suddenly the mist cleared away and a beautiful young heifer sprang out into the sunlight.[111](111/ "tree and pragmatics") Her color was golden, her neck and legs were like the wild deer’s, her horns were ivory, her eyes were wondrous large, and on her forehead was a disc of steely sunshine.[112](112/ "tree and pragmatics") The Smith was delighted, his heart was filled with admiration.[113](113/ "tree and pragmatics") “Beautiful, beautiful creature!” he cried.[114](114/ "tree and pragmatics") “Surely, she will be of use to mankind.”[115](115/ "tree and pragmatics") Scarcely had he spoken when the heifer rushed out of the smithy, pausing not a moment to salute her master.[116](116/ "tree and pragmatics") She ran swiftly into the forest, bellowing, horning, fighting, spurning everything that came in her way.[117](117/ "tree and pragmatics") “Ah, me!” sighed the Smith, “she, too, has an evil nature.[118](118/ "tree and pragmatics") Alas, that one so wickedly inclined should be blessed with so beautiful a form!”[119](119/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he bade the serving-men bring her back to the smithy; and when, with infinite labor, they had done this, he cut her in pieces and threw her back into the caldron.[120](120/ "tree and pragmatics") And now the bellows was set to blowing again, and it roared like a tempest in a forest of pines; the smoke rolled darkly from the chimney; and the fire glowed hotter than before around the seething caldron.[121](121/ "tree and pragmatics") And all that day, and through the midsummer night, the master and his men toiled unceasingly.[122](122/ "tree and pragmatics") At sunrise on the fifth day, Ilmarinen looked again into the caldron.[123](123/ "tree and pragmatics") As he stooped and gazed, a plough rose suddenly from the magic mixture.[124](124/ "tree and pragmatics") Like a thing of life it glided softly through the furnace door, bowed low before the wizard Smith, and waited to receive his judgment.[125](125/ "tree and pragmatics") It had been shaped and put together with great skill, and every line was a line of beauty.[126](126/ "tree and pragmatics") The frame was of copper, the share was of gold, the handles were tipped with silver.[127](127/ "tree and pragmatics") “Here I am, my master,” it said.[128](128/ "tree and pragmatics") “Send me forth to do your bidding.”[129](129/ "tree and pragmatics") “What good thing can you do?” asked Ilmarinen.[130](130/ "tree and pragmatics") “I can turn things over, tear things up,” answered the plough.[131](131/ "tree and pragmatics") “Nothing in the fields can stand against me.[132](132/ "tree and pragmatics") I will overturn the sod, I will uproot all growing things whether good or bad.[133](133/ "tree and pragmatics") I will go into gardens, meadows, cornfields, and stir the soil; and woe to the plant that comes in my way, for I will destroy it.”[134](134/ "tree and pragmatics") “You are beautiful and you are useful,” said the Smith; “but you are rude and unkind.[135](135/ "tree and pragmatics") You do not know how to discriminate between the evil and the good.[136](136/ "tree and pragmatics") You give pain, you cause death, and therefore I do not love you.”[137](137/ "tree and pragmatics") He waited not for the plough’s answer, but struck it with his hammer and broke it into a thousand fragments; then he threw the fragments back into the magic caldron and closed the door of the furnace.[138](138/ "tree and pragmatics") Long and thoughtfully he sat, silent but not despairing.[139](139/ "tree and pragmatics") His elbows rested upon his knees, his head was bowed upon his hands.[140](140/ "tree and pragmatics") And he repeated to himself his favorite saying: “None but cowards say, ‘I cannot,’ none but weaklings say, ‘Impossible,’ none but women weep for failure.”[141](141/ "tree and pragmatics") At length he rose and called to his serving-men; he dismissed them, every one, and summoned the winds to come and be his helpers.[142](142/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [The Recipe](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/9/) - next →: [The Forging of the Sampo](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/11/) - ↑ back to [The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/)