You, who befriend me, I importune-

Speak! Tell me, confidant of fortune:

Wby came you to this wilderness?"

And with a wistful smile replying

To him, the old man says: "Alas,

I have forgot my land!" Then, sighing:

"A Finn am I by birth. It was

My lot to tend the flocks of neighbours,

And I would take them off to graze

In vales on which no stranger's gaze

E'er rested. Carefree midst my labours

Did I remain, and only knew,

Besides the woods and streams, what few

Joys poverty could offer .to me....

Alas! Ahead dark days were looming.

"Near where I lived, a lovely flower,

One named Nahina, bloomed; of our

Young maids none lovelier than she

Was there. One morn, a bagpipe blowing,

My flocks I grazed where grass was growing

In lush profusion. I could see

A brook wind 'fore me; by it, weaving

A garland, sat a dear young lass....

Her beauty - ah, 'twas past believing!-

Drew and enchanted me, and as

I gazed at her I knew I'd seen her

Before.... Yes, knight, it was Nahina,

'Twas fate had brought me there. The flame

Of love was my reward for eyeing

The maid thus brazenly; I came

To know a passion self-denying:

All of its bliss, all of its pain.

"Six months sped by.... I thought to win her

And opened up my heart. I said: