--- title: The Kantele — The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North · full text with trees description: The Kantele, «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: With eyes that never failed and arms that never tired the Minstrel stood by the helm and guided the vessel around the jutting headland and --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/34/) [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 Kantele # The Kantele The Kantele of «The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North» by James Baldwin: the whole text, 104 sentences and 1722 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. With eyes that never failed and arms that never tired the Minstrel stood by the helm and guided the vessel around the jutting headland and straight forward into the great white sea.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") On the benches the rowers sat, wielding their oars with strength and deftness and singing and shouting for gladness.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") On the deck the long-armed Ahti danced nimbly and joyously, forgetful of his fishing, forgetful of his hunger.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") For one long day and through the moonlit night the ship sped onward across the open sea.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") On the next day it skirted the low, marshy shores of the Frozen Land.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") On the third day it sailed through narrow straits between small islands, approaching by stealth the longed-for haven of Pohyola.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") And now the rowers were silent, the maidens had ceased their singing, the young men refrained from shouting, even the nimble Ahti left off his dancing and sat quietly at the feet of Ilmarinen.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") Suddenly, in a deep channel, the vessel’s bottom grated upon something, and the ship shivered and stood still.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") It remained fast in its place and no effort of the rowers could move it.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") The nimble Ahti seized a long pole and thrust it into the water, trying with all his great strength to push the ship along.[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") What was it that had thus so suddenly stopped the flight of the gallant vessel?[11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") “O thou lively Ahti,” then cried the Minstrel, “lean far over the gunwales and look below.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") See what it is that keeps us moveless.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") Is it some rock, or is it the snaggy trunk of some forest tree lying deep beneath the waves?”[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") The long-armed hero obeyed.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") Holding fast with one hand to the vessel’s edge, he let himself down into the water.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") He looked under the ship’s hull, he peered closely at her keel, and then he leaped quickly back among the rowers.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") “It is not a rock,” he shouted, “neither is it a tree\![18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") It is a fish, a mighty pike that has stopped the vessel.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") Never have I seen so large a fish.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") It lies in the water silent, motionless, asleep, like a senseless mountain.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") The ship is wedged against its back fin—a fin as large as the sail upon our mast.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") If the fish should sink, it will drag our vessel down into the depths; if it should rise, it will tumble us all headlong into the sea.”[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") “Too much talk will never save us,” said Wainamoinen.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") “Never yet was pike slain by idle words.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") Draw your sword and wield it valiantly with your long, ungainly arms.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") Sever in twain the fish on which we are grounded.”[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") “Surely I will do so,” answered Ahti.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") “I will carve him into a thousand pieces.”[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") He drew his fish-knife from his belt, he reached downward with his long arms, he slashed furiously this way and that; but nothing did he cut save the yielding water.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") Up leaped Ilmarinen from his seat among the rowers.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") He seized the boaster by the hair and thrust him back among the benches.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") “Easy it is to brag,” he said, “but to do is quite another story.”[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") Then with his sword of truest metal he reached down—deep down beneath the ship’s round hull.[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") With all his strength he struck at the fish, thinking to cleave it in twain.[35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") But the scales of the monster were like iron plates lapping one upon another.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") The sword was shivered in pieces, it fell from the hero’s hand, and the pike still slept unharmed in the quiet water.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") “This is no boy’s work!” cried Wainamoinen.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") “A man is needed—a man’s sense, a man’s strength, a man’s skill.[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") Stand aside, and see what a real man can do.”[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") Then, drawing the sword—the keen-edged sword, Faultless, which the Smith had forged for him—he leaped into the sea, he dived deep down to the fish’s resting-place.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") With one tremendous stroke he severed the mighty pike in twain, with another he hewed off its head.[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") The monstrous body sank to the bottom; but the Minstrel dragged the head up to the surface, and with Ahti’s help he hoisted the mighty jaws into the vessel.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") “Now, row\![44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") Row all together!” shouted Ilmarinen.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") Instantly the hundred oars were dipped into the waves, all the rowers pulled together and the ship began again to move steadily, proudly through the water.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") Wainamoinen stood at the helm.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") With masterly skill he piloted the vessel through narrow ways, he guided it along deep, winding channels, and finally steered it to the mainland, where it rested in a safe, well-sheltered haven close by the village of Pohyola.[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") All leaped out upon the sands, glad that the long voyage was ended.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") A fire was built and the young men and maidens clustered round it.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") The head of the pike was brought, and all examined its huge scales, its staring eyes, its sharp-pointed teeth.[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") “It is long since we tasted food,” said the Minstrel.[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") “Let the fairest of the maidens cook this fish.[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") Let them broil it for our breakfast.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") Never shall we enter Pohyola while hunger pinches us, while famine robs us of strength.”[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") Forthwith the maidens began the cooking.[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") Ten of the most beautiful were chosen to perform the work.[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") The young men hastened to gather sticks on the shore to feed the fire, to make hot coals for the broiling.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") Wainamoinen drew his knife blade from its sheath and with skilful strokes divided the head into a hundred pieces—yes, into more than a hundred he cleaved it, that each of the crew might have abundance.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") The flames roared, the red coals glowed upon the sand, the juicy morsels sizzled loudly and gave forth savory odors very pleasant indeed to the nostrils.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") Soon the breakfast was prepared and all sat down upon the sand to eat the delicious morsels which the maidens had cooked.[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") Sharp were their appetites, and when they had finished, nothing was left of the mighty head save its bones and its dagger-like teeth which lay scattered on the beach.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") “What a pity that these should be wasted!” said the Minstrel, picking up a fragment of the jawbone—a fragment with the teeth still fast within their sockets.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") “Surely, if Ilmarinen had them in his smithy he might shape them into something useful, beautiful, wonderful.”[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") “Nay, nay!” answered Ilmarinen.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") “Nothing can be made from such useless things.[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") The skilfulest smith can never fashion fish-bones into anything of value.”[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") “It may be so,” said Wainamoinen thoughtfully, “and yet, perhaps I, who am not a smith, may make something from them that will give joy to men and women.”[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") Thereupon, with his sharp-edged knife he set to work to fashion from the fish-bones a thing to give forth music.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") Of a piece of cedar he made the framework; of the pike’s jawbone he made the bridge; of the pike’s sharp teeth he made the pegs to hold the harp strings.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") Then out into the fields he went, searching in the thickets and among the briars.[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") Soon he found five horsehairs which the wild steeds of Pohyola had lost while pasturing there—five horsehairs, long and strong and resonant.[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") “These will serve right well for harp strings,” he said.[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") He hung the horsehairs in their places, he stretched them tight, he gave to each its proper length and tension.[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") “Ha! ha!” he laughed.[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") “Who now will say that nothing can be made of fish-bones?[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") Here is something that will breathe forth music sweeter than a minstrel’s song.[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") It will delight the young, the old, the rich, the poor—all sorts of people—with its rare and matchless melodies.[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") Call it the kantele, call it the harp of the North, and let minstrels never fail to play upon it.”[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") The news of his invention spread quickly.[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") The youths, the maidens came crowding round him.[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") From the fields and the fishermen’s boats the men came running.[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") From the huts and the washing pools the women came dancing.[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") Half-grown boys and little girls pushed shyly forward—all curious to gaze on the wonderful kantele, all anxious to hear its sweet music.[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") And Wainamoinen passed it from hand to hand, saying, “Look at it, let your fingers play upon it, let its melodies rejoice your hearts.”[85](85/ "tree and pragmatics") Wistfully the little girls, the maidens, the older women, all held the harp in their hands and with their tender fingers swept the harp strings.[86](86/ "tree and pragmatics") Boldly, confidently, the half-grown boys, the young men, the old fishermen, all grasped the wonderful instrument and tried to play upon it.[87](87/ "tree and pragmatics") But the tones which they drew from it were harsh, unpleasant, unmusical.[88](88/ "tree and pragmatics") “It is not thus the kantele is played,” said Wainamoinen.[89](89/ "tree and pragmatics") “Not one of you can draw cheerful music from it, and yet the melodies are there; they lie hidden in the strings of horsehair, in the jawbone of the pike.”[90](90/ "tree and pragmatics") “I can play it,” said the nimble Ahti.[91](91/ "tree and pragmatics") “With my long arms I can call forth the melodies that now lie slumbering within it.[92](92/ "tree and pragmatics") Let me try what I can do.”[93](93/ "tree and pragmatics") Wainamoinen put the harp of fish-bone in his gnarly hands; he rested it upon his knees; very eagerly the little fellow swept the harp strings with the tips of his long fingers.[94](94/ "tree and pragmatics") But the sound which came forth was not music—it was a noise, discordant, grating, painful to the ears.[95](95/ "tree and pragmatics") “It is always thus,” said the Minstrel, growing impatient at last.[96](96/ "tree and pragmatics") “The poorest doers are the biggest boasters.[97](97/ "tree and pragmatics") The music of the kantele lies still beneath its bridge, beneath the jawbone of the pike.[98](98/ "tree and pragmatics") Not one of you has the skill to coax it forth from its lurking-place.[99](99/ "tree and pragmatics") Let us all go now to the village, to the roomy dwelling of Dame Louhi.[100](100/ "tree and pragmatics") Perhaps the Mistress of the land, the old, the grim, the gray, the Wise Woman of the North, will be able to touch the harp strings aright—perhaps she will know how to play the kantele and bring sweet melodies from its heart.”[101](101/ "tree and pragmatics") And all the young men shouted, “To Dame Louhi’s dwelling\![102](102/ "tree and pragmatics") Let us see what the Wise Woman can do.[103](103/ "tree and pragmatics") Yes, lead us to Dame Louhi’s dwelling.”[104](104/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [The Weeping Ship](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/33/) - next →: [The Triumph of Music](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/35/) - ↑ back to [The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/)