--- title: The Golden Maiden — The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North · full text with trees · page 2 description: The Golden Maiden, «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: Far away in northern inlets Ilmarinen and his friend the Minstrel were catching salmon for the winter’s store. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/31/page/2/) [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 Golden Maiden # The Golden Maiden · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/31/) **2** It was not that which the Smith had hoped to see, for the ill-working serving-men had broken the spells that he was weaving.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") It was not a golden war-steed with shoes of silver.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") It was not a monstrous eagle with beak of hardest iron.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") It was only a young lamb, small and feeble, with fleece of mingled gold and silver.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") Ilmarinen looked at the tiny beast and felt no pleasure.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") A child might have liked it as a plaything, but a hero delights not in useless toys.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") “I did not call for you, my lambkin,” he said, disappointed and sorrowing.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") “You are gentle, you are harmless, but my magic spells should have wrought something far better and more beautiful.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") I desire a golden maiden and no other form will please me.”[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") So saying, he thrust the lamb back into the boiling caldron, forcing it down to the very bottom.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he threw in more gold, and with each handful of the yellow metal he muttered a new rune of magic words and magic import.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") The fire burned fitfully beneath and around the caldron.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") Tongues of blue flame encircled it, sheets of white flame enveloped it, a sound like the humming of bees issued from its broad mouth.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") Ilmarinen threw fresh coal into the furnace and heaped it high above the draught hole.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") He worked the bellows, steadily, gently, persistently.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") The fire roared, the flames danced, the heat became intense.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") For hours the hero labored without cessation; for hours he muttered spells of enchantment, suffering nothing to break in upon his thoughts or distract from the mystic power of his words.[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") When he at last, had reached the end, had recited all the proper runes and sayings, he stopped blowing the bellows, and with great caution stooped down and looked into the caldron.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") The flames died suddenly away, and out of the vessel there sprang a wonderful image—the image of a beautiful maiden.[99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") In face and form she was indeed lovely—lovelier than any other woman, save one, that Ilmarinen had ever seen.[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") Her head was of silver and her hair was golden.[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") Her eyes sparkled like precious stones and were blue as the summer sky, yet she saw nothing.[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") Her ears were dainty and blushing like pink rose leaves, yet she heard nothing.[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") Her lips were tender and sweet and red like twin cranberries meeting beneath her faultless nose, yet she tasted not, smelled nothing.[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") Her mouth served not for speaking nor yet for eating or smiling.[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") Her fingers were long and tapering and her hands small and shapely, yet she felt nothing.[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") Her feet were well-formed and comely, yet they would not support her, she could not stand.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") “O my loved one\![108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") O my lost one\![109](../../109/ "tree and pragmatics") O thou who wert once the Maid of Beauty, come and dwell in this golden body!” cried the enraptured Smith.[110](../../110/ "tree and pragmatics") “Come, and once more be the joy of my poor life!”[111](../../111/ "tree and pragmatics") He lifted the Golden Maiden and placed her in the cushioned seat wherein his lost wife had often reposed.[112](../../112/ "tree and pragmatics") He put his arm around her waist, but she did not return his caress.[113](../../113/ "tree and pragmatics") He kissed her cherry red lips, but they were cold, cold, cold.[114](../../114/ "tree and pragmatics") He spoke many endearing words in her ear, but she gave him no answer.[115](../../115/ "tree and pragmatics") He took her hands between his own, but there was no throbbing of life in them.[116](../../116/ "tree and pragmatics") “She is cold, so cold!” he muttered.[117](../../117/ "tree and pragmatics") “She is like ice, like snow in midwinter!”[118](../../118/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he laid her on a silken couch, put soft pillows beneath her head, and covered her with warm blankets and quilted coverlets.[119](../../119/ "tree and pragmatics") And as he did so he prayed unceasingly to the dear dead one whom he had loved so much:[120](../../120/ "tree and pragmatics") “O thou who wert once the Maid of Beauty, come and dwell in this body of gold\![121](../../121/ "tree and pragmatics") Come and give life to this precious maiden; fill her veins with blood, give warmth to her body, sight to her eyes, hearing to her ears!”[122](../../122/ "tree and pragmatics") All night long he sat beside the couch, holding the maiden’s hands and breathing his own warm breath into her face.[123](../../123/ "tree and pragmatics") All night long he moaned and wept and called the name of his lost wife whom the beasts had devoured.[124](../../124/ "tree and pragmatics") At length the new day dawned and the sunlight streamed into the room and fell upon the couch.[125](../../125/ "tree and pragmatics") The Golden Maiden was as cold as before, her face was white with frost, her body was frozen to the blankets.[126](../../126/ "tree and pragmatics") “Ah, me! there is no hope!” said the Smith, despairing utterly; and he lifted the image from its resting place.[127](../../127/ "tree and pragmatics") “Never will the dead come to life again, never will my loved one return to me.[128](../../128/ "tree and pragmatics") Henceforth I shall walk alone upon the earth.”[129](../../129/ "tree and pragmatics") He took the Golden Maiden gently in his arms, he smoothed the drapery about her, and carried her to his old friend, the Minstrel.[130](../../130/ "tree and pragmatics") “O Wainamoinen, tried and true!” he cried.[131](../../131/ "tree and pragmatics") “Here I bring you a present—a maiden of great worth, golden and beautiful.[132](../../132/ "tree and pragmatics") See her fair face, her comely form, her feet so small and shapely.”[133](../../133/ "tree and pragmatics") The Minstrel, wise and steadfast, looked at the image closely, admiringly.[134](../../134/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he said, “She is indeed a pretty maiden, and the likeness is perfect.[135](../../135/ "tree and pragmatics") But wherefore do you bring her to me?”[136](../../136/ "tree and pragmatics") “Dear brother, friend, companion,” answered the Smith, “I bring her to you because I love you, because I would make you happy.[137](../../137/ "tree and pragmatics") Years ago we both wooed the same Maid of Beauty.[138](../../138/ "tree and pragmatics") I won her because I was young; you lost her because you were old.[139](../../139/ "tree and pragmatics") I know what must have been your sorrow and disappointment.[140](../../140/ "tree and pragmatics") Now, when there can be no more joy for me, I bring you this Golden Maiden to be your solace and delight.[141](../../141/ "tree and pragmatics") She has the form and features of the Maid of Beauty, and I doubt not she will please you.[142](../../142/ "tree and pragmatics") She will sit on your knee and nestle dovelike in your arms—and she is worth her weight in gold.”[143](../../143/ "tree and pragmatics") “I want no golden maiden!” cried the Minstrel half angrily, sternly.[144](../../144/ "tree and pragmatics") “For what is gold without sense, without soul?[145](../../145/ "tree and pragmatics") I have heard of young fools who wedded silly maidens, brainless women, soulless ladies, just for gold.[146](../../146/ "tree and pragmatics") But think you that one in my position would stoop to such folly?”[147](../../147/ "tree and pragmatics") “I know that you are wise, my brother,” said the Smith, “and you are the master of all magic.[148](../../148/ "tree and pragmatics") Perhaps you might endow this Golden Maiden with sense, with warm blood, with a noble soul.”[149](../../149/ "tree and pragmatics") “Jumala alone has that power,” answered Wainamoinen, “and to Jumala let us give all praise.[150](../../150/ "tree and pragmatics") Carry this image back to your smithy, thrust the Golden Maiden into your furnace, and then you may forge from her all sorts of objects, beautiful, useful, precious.[151](../../151/ "tree and pragmatics") For never will your Maid of Beauty return from Tuonela to dwell in a body so base and worthless.”[152](../../152/ "tree and pragmatics") Sorrowfully, regretfully, Ilmarinen obeyed.[153](../../153/ "tree and pragmatics") Back to his smithy he carried the golden image; he thrust it into his furnace; he watched it melt and disappear in the terrible heat.[154](../../154/ "tree and pragmatics") Then he turned himself about and walked out silently into the darkness.[155](../../155/ "tree and pragmatics") And for many a sad day the people of Wainola sought him in vain and then mourned him as dead.[156](../../156/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/31/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/31/) - next →: [The Famine](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/32/) - ↑ back to [The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/)