Quotes · Quote card
Quotation from Kalevala by Elias Lönnrot (compiler)
“Mastered by desire impulsive, By a mighty inward urging, I am ready now for singing, Ready to begin the chanting Of our nation’s ancient folk-song Handed down from by-gone ages.”
Kalevala, Proem, trans. John Martin Crawford
The opening of the epic, in which the singer announces the old songs and invites a brother to sing with him.
Citation: "Mastered by desire impulsive, By a mighty inward urging, I am ready now for singing, Ready to begin the chanting Of our nation’s ancient folk-song Handed down from by-gone ages." — Elias Lönnrot (compiler), Kalevala, Proem, trans. John Martin Crawford. (id kalevala-q1)
Portrait: The Defence of the Sampo, Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Public domain.
