--- title: The Triumph of Music — The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North · full text with trees description: The Triumph of Music, «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: Old Dame Louhi, unlovely and unloved, sat in the doorway of her dwelling. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/35/) [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 Triumph of Music # The Triumph of Music The Triumph of Music of «The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North» by James Baldwin: the whole text, 121 sentences and 2279 words. The small number after every sentence leads to its own page with its syntax tree and pragmatics, parsed by Mova itself. Old Dame Louhi, unlovely and unloved, sat in the doorway of her dwelling.[1](1/ "tree and pragmatics") She looked out and saw that which made her wrinkled, uncanny face beam with joy.[2](2/ "tree and pragmatics") Her toothless mouth expanded into the mockery of a smile.[3](3/ "tree and pragmatics") Her small, greedy eyes twinkled beneath her shaggy eyebrows.[4](4/ "tree and pragmatics") Her long, crooked fingers trembled nervously, they seemed to be grasping at something invisible.[5](5/ "tree and pragmatics") She was pleased because where once were naught but vast brown meadows she now saw fields of ripening grain.[6](6/ "tree and pragmatics") Where once were miry marsh lands she saw green pastures with hundreds of sleek cattle grazing thereon.[7](7/ "tree and pragmatics") Where once were sandy barrens and wind-swept hills she saw fruitful orchards and blooming gardens.[8](8/ "tree and pragmatics") And in the village, instead of wretched huts she saw neat cottages and well-filled barns, the homes of contentment and plenty.[9](9/ "tree and pragmatics") Who can wonder that her face was wreathed with smiles while her heart was overflowing with joy?[10](10/ "tree and pragmatics") \[G\][11](11/ "tree and pragmatics") “My mill of fortune has done all this,” she muttered to herself.[12](12/ "tree and pragmatics") “This fair, sweet country shall now no longer be called the Frozen Land.[13](13/ "tree and pragmatics") It shall everywhere be known as the Land of Plenty, the home of the Sampo.”[14](14/ "tree and pragmatics") She turned her head and listened.[15](15/ "tree and pragmatics") A faint, musical sound, far away, came to her ears.[16](16/ "tree and pragmatics") It was the sound made by the magic mill, grinding, grinding forever in the cave beneath the hill of copper.[17](17/ "tree and pragmatics") She could hear its pictured cover turning, turning—pouring out wealth for all the people.[18](18/ "tree and pragmatics") She could hear the grains of gold dropping, dropping—the precious royal sap feeding the rootlets of the corn, filling the apple blossoms with nectar, and pervading the rich warm soil itself.[19](19/ "tree and pragmatics") Suddenly she was startled by hearing another sound—a strange, unusual noise, a clamor as of the voices of many people all trying to speak at once, all trying to make themselves heard.[20](20/ "tree and pragmatics") The sound grew louder every moment.[21](21/ "tree and pragmatics") It became a confused uproar; it drew rapidly nearer.[22](22/ "tree and pragmatics") What could it be?[23](23/ "tree and pragmatics") The Mistress, looking eagerly, soon saw whence the clamor came.[24](24/ "tree and pragmatics") A great crowd of excited people appeared coming up from the seashore.[25](25/ "tree and pragmatics") The road between the gardens was filled with half-grown boys, chattering little girls, shouting young men, singing maidens, hard-working women from the farms, and old men from the fishing boats; and all were using their voices vigorously, excitedly, as though some wonderful thing was happening.[26](26/ "tree and pragmatics") The Mistress was alarmed.[27](27/ "tree and pragmatics") “Surely the world has gone mad!” she cried in dismay.[28](28/ "tree and pragmatics") “Who are these people, and what do they mean by their strange actions?”[29](29/ "tree and pragmatics") The rabble came nearer.[30](30/ "tree and pragmatics") Dame Louhi could distinguish some of the faces.[31](31/ "tree and pragmatics") She was sure that the children and some of the old men and old women were her own subjects—she had seen them every day of their lives, but never in so jolly a mood as now.[32](32/ "tree and pragmatics") But who were those noisy young men and maidens, dressed in foreign garb, who formed the greater portion of the noisy company?[33](33/ "tree and pragmatics") And who were the two heroes who led them—one white-bearded and tall, the other sad-eyed and pale but with the limbs of a giant?[34](34/ "tree and pragmatics") Ah\![35](35/ "tree and pragmatics") Dame Louhi knew them only too well.[36](36/ "tree and pragmatics") “Hail to you, heroes!” she said, as they paused beside her dwelling and silence fell upon the company.[37](37/ "tree and pragmatics") “Your faces are familiar to me and your names I have not forgotten.[38](38/ "tree and pragmatics") If you come in peace, I welcome you to this land of plenty.”[39](39/ "tree and pragmatics") “We come in peace,” answered the Minstrel, wise and truthful.[40](40/ "tree and pragmatics") “We have heard strange stories in our country concerning the magic Sampo and the great changes it has wrought in Pohyola.[41](41/ "tree and pragmatics") Now our eyes see that which our hearts could not believe and we would fain rejoice with you and be glad because of your good fortune.”[42](42/ "tree and pragmatics") “Good fortune comes to those who labor for it and who most deserve it,” said Dame Louhi coldly.[43](43/ "tree and pragmatics") “But tell me, what fresh news do you bring from the Land of Heroes?”[44](44/ "tree and pragmatics") “There is no news but of famine and sorrow,” answered the Minstrel.[45](45/ "tree and pragmatics") “The children are crying for food, and men and women perish because of the poverty of the land.[46](46/ "tree and pragmatics") Therefore we have come to ask you to share the Sampo with us.[47](47/ "tree and pragmatics") It has made you rich and happy, now give us a small portion of it that it may bless our suffering people also.”[48](48/ "tree and pragmatics") The face of the Mistress grew ashy-white with anger.[49](49/ "tree and pragmatics") “The Sampo is but a little thing,” she said, “and never will I share it with another.[50](50/ "tree and pragmatics") Can two hungry men share a sparrow?[51](51/ "tree and pragmatics") Can three divide a tiny squirrel?[52](52/ "tree and pragmatics") You may hear the Sampo whirring, you may hear its pictured cover grinding in the cavern where I placed it—but it whirs for me alone, it grinds out wealth and plenty for my people and for no other.”[53](53/ "tree and pragmatics") “Surely you are unwise and selfish,” then said the Minstrel, “and foolish it would be to waste words in argument.[54](54/ "tree and pragmatics") Since you will not share the Sampo with us I warn you that you shall lose the whole of it.[55](55/ "tree and pragmatics") We will take it out of the cavern where it is grinding and we will carry it far away to our own country to give comfort and joy to our neighbors and food and clothing to our loved ones.”[56](56/ "tree and pragmatics") When Dame Louhi heard this she rose up quickly and stood, furious, in her doorway.[57](57/ "tree and pragmatics") She clenched her bony fists and shook them high above her head, calling upon all her people, all her armed men, all her servants, to come quickly in their might and drive the robbers from the shores of Pohyola.[58](58/ "tree and pragmatics") Loud was her voice, stern were her commands, and there was no one who did not hear her.[59](59/ "tree and pragmatics") Instantly a hundred swordsmen were at her side, a thousand spearsmen answered her call.[60](60/ "tree and pragmatics") They stood ready to smite and to slay, to drive the intruders into the sea.[61](61/ "tree and pragmatics") But Wainamoinen, old and fearless, stood in his place unflinching and firm as a rock in the midst of a storm.[62](62/ "tree and pragmatics") He held the kantele in his hands and began to play upon it, softly, gently.[63](63/ "tree and pragmatics") Instantly every voice was hushed and every arm was stayed.[64](64/ "tree and pragmatics") He raised his fingers nimbly and moved them swiftly over the harp strings.[65](65/ "tree and pragmatics") One sweet note followed another, pleasures indescribable issued from the harp of fish-bone, while the Minstrel sang his rarest, richest songs—songs so melodious that every heart was entranced, bewitched, overcome with joy.[66](66/ "tree and pragmatics") Forthwith all the creatures of the woods and fields came near to listen.[67](67/ "tree and pragmatics") The squirrels came leaping from branch to branch.[68](68/ "tree and pragmatics") Soft-furred ermines, minks, otters, and seals laid themselves down in the grass before him.[69](69/ "tree and pragmatics") Sharp-eyed lynxes looked out from the foliage of the thickets and drank in the wonderful music.[70](70/ "tree and pragmatics") Herds of reindeer came racing over the meadows.[71](71/ "tree and pragmatics") In the marshes the savage wolves awoke and stretched themselves, and then with one accord rushed out and ran with speed to the spot where the kantele was playing.[72](72/ "tree and pragmatics") There they squatted down in orderly rows, their ears pricked up, listening and rejoicing.[73](73/ "tree and pragmatics") Even the lazy bears came ambling from their lurking-places; they climbed upon the rocks and into the trees and sat there in solemn silence, drinking in the bewitching sounds.[74](74/ "tree and pragmatics") The birds of the air also came on silent wings from the four corners of the sky.[75](75/ "tree and pragmatics") They flew backwards and forwards, soared in circles, and paused with outstretched pinions, looking down to enjoy the wondrous melodies.[76](76/ "tree and pragmatics") The eagle left her fledglings in her lofty eyry and came to listen to the hero’s playing.[77](77/ "tree and pragmatics") Wild ducks from the deep inlets of the northern sea and snow-white swans from the marshes of Pohyola came in flocks to hearken to his singing.[78](78/ "tree and pragmatics") Sparrows and wrens and all the tiny birds of the fields and woods assembled by thousands; they perched on the Minstrel’s head and shoulders, they filled the branches of the trees, they hovered in the air, forgetful of everything save the sweet notes that issued from the kantele.[79](79/ "tree and pragmatics") The fairies of the rainbow and the mists also came, some riding on the yellow sunbeams and some resting on the crimson borders of the clouds.[80](80/ "tree and pragmatics") The slender daughters of the air, who weave the golden fabrics of each man’s life, paused in their work to listen, and as they paused their shuttle fell from their hands and the precious thread of their spinning was broken.[81](81/ "tree and pragmatics") Nor did the creatures of the sea fail to hear the all-entrancing melodies.[82](82/ "tree and pragmatics") Little fishes and large fishes came in shoals and lifted up their heads along the beach to rejoice and wonder.[83](83/ "tree and pragmatics") The slender pike, the graceful salmon, nimble herrings, all kinds of finny creatures, came crowding to the shore to listen to the songs of Wainamoinen.[84](84/ "tree and pragmatics") White whales from the icy seas, savage sharks, and squirming eels swam side by side and trembled with emotion.[85](85/ "tree and pragmatics") And the Old Man of the Sea, even the king of the boundless deep, came, and sitting upon a throne of water-lilies listened with joy to the ravishing melodies that issued from the kantele.[86](86/ "tree and pragmatics") The water nymphs, also, cousins of the reeds that grow in the still waters between the hills, they heard the sweet music and were enraptured by it.[87](87/ "tree and pragmatics") They left off playing with their silken tresses, they dropped their combs and their silver brushes and lifted their comely heads to enjoy the Minstrel’s wondrous songs.[88](88/ "tree and pragmatics") And their mother, the Wave Mistress, terror of seafaring men, raised herself from the billows and listened.[89](89/ "tree and pragmatics") Then with speed she betook herself shoreward, hiding her awful head among the rushes, and there she lay until the music soothed her to deepest slumber.[90](90/ "tree and pragmatics") For one whole day—yes, for two long, dreamy days—the Minstrel played thus upon the harp strings, upon the inimitable kantele, and as he played he sang the songs of truth and beauty which he had learned from the Wisdom Keeper, from the earth, the sea, and the sky.[91](91/ "tree and pragmatics") And all the creatures, all the people, were spellbound and motionless because of the great joy and comfort and wonder that had come upon them.[92](92/ "tree and pragmatics") At length he changed his theme and sang of the grandeur and glory of life, of things mighty and things lowly, and of the great hereafter beyond the silent river.[93](93/ "tree and pragmatics") And from the kantele he drew forth such marvellous melodies that not one among all his hearers could refrain from weeping.[94](94/ "tree and pragmatics") The heroes wept, old men and matrons, swaggering youths and timid maidens, half-grown boys and lovely little girls, all wept, for their hearts were melted.[95](95/ "tree and pragmatics") Tears welled up even in the eyes of the beasts and the birds and fell like rain upon the leaves and the grass and the gray sand by the shore.[96](96/ "tree and pragmatics") Meanwhile, as he played, the Minstrel himself was moved to weeping.[97](97/ "tree and pragmatics") Down his cheeks the water-drops went coursing, they ran down his beard and down his heaving breast.[98](98/ "tree and pragmatics") Round as cranberries and large as the heads of swallows his tears fell, chasing each other to the ground.[99](99/ "tree and pragmatics") They rolled like hailstones down upon his feet, they flowed in streams till they reached the margin of the sea, and there they fell tinkling and splashing into the sparkling water, down to the black ooze at the bottom.[100](100/ "tree and pragmatics") “Who will bring my tears back to me?” asked Wainamoinen, his voice trembling while his long fingers still played upon the harp strings.[101](101/ "tree and pragmatics") “A dress of softest feathers shall be given to that one who gathers my tears from beneath the crystal waves.”[102](102/ "tree and pragmatics") The raven heard him and flew down, snapping with his sharp beak and trying to gather up the tears.[103](103/ "tree and pragmatics") But not one could he recover from the sparkling water.[104](104/ "tree and pragmatics") The blue duck also heard him and with swift strokes swam to the spot where the tears had fallen.[105](105/ "tree and pragmatics") She dived deep down into the water and there she found the tear-drops lying on the black ooze at the bottom.[106](106/ "tree and pragmatics") Hastily with her spoon-like beak she gathered them up, she carried them to Wainamoinen and laid them on the grass before him.[107](107/ "tree and pragmatics") Lo! every tear-drop was a pearl of wondrous beauty—a pearl of priceless value, fit to adorn a queen or deck the crown of the mightiest king.[108](108/ "tree and pragmatics") “O brave blue duck, friend and helper!” said the Minstrel.[109](109/ "tree and pragmatics") “You have done well and you shall be rewarded quickly.”[110](110/ "tree and pragmatics") And so saying, he gave her a dress of feathers—a dress of wondrous beauty, well-fitting and soft and suited to one who lives in northern climates by icy seas.[111](111/ "tree and pragmatics") And all this while the music never ceased, the kantele kept pouring out its sweetest, rarest treasures, while Wainamoinen sang new songs to charm the listening multitude.[112](112/ "tree and pragmatics") At length, however, the people could hold out no longer.[113](113/ "tree and pragmatics") Their strength forsook them and they sank, one by one, upon the ground, all overcome with weariness.[114](114/ "tree and pragmatics") They closed their eyes and gave themselves up to slumber.[115](115/ "tree and pragmatics") Children and young people and men and women, all lay drowsing.[116](116/ "tree and pragmatics") The hundred brave swordsmen and the thousand spearsmen of Pohyola were soundly sleeping.[117](117/ "tree and pragmatics") Even old Dame Louhi yawned and closed her eyes and sank back upon her couch overcome with slumber, forgetful of the Sampo, forgetful of everything.[118](118/ "tree and pragmatics") Of all the multitude none remained awake save the heroes and the young men and maidens that had plied the oars on board of the crimson ship.[119](119/ "tree and pragmatics") Softly, more softly, the strains of music issued from the kantele; sweetly, more sweetly, the tones of the wonderful singer vibrated in the air.[120](120/ "tree and pragmatics") Then suddenly both stopped and silence reigned.[121](121/ "tree and pragmatics") - ← previous: [The Kantele](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/34/) - next →: [The Flight](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/36/) - ↑ back to [The Sampo: A Wonder Tale of the Old North](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg66819/)