The laft fpecimen I ihall produce o f Finniih poetry, of female
compoiition, is the following fragment o f a fong o f confiderable
length, which the Finniih nurfes are accuftomed o 7 to fineo; to children
in the cradle. It may be confidered valuable,-inafmuch as
it marks the genius o f the nation. T he words were taken down
whilft a nurfe fung them and rocked her child, to ileep. The
perfon who wrote down the words was well acquainted with the
Finniih tongue ; but the woman knew no more than this part o f
the fong, and no opportunity offered o f obtaining the remainder.
It is hoped no reader will be difpleafed at finding here fuch a
fpecimen .of genuine tendernefs, fimplicity, and piety, though in
the form o f a lullaby-fong.
“ Sleep on, ileep on, fweet bird o f the meadow; Take thy reft,
“ little redbreaft, take thy reft; God ihall awake thee in his own
“ good time ; He has made thee a little bough to repofe thee on ;
“ A bough canopied with the leaves of the birch-tree; Sleep ftands
“ at the door, and fays ; T he fon o f ileep ftands at the door, and
“ fays ; Is there not a little child here; Lying aileep in the cradle;
“ A little child wrapt up in fwaddling cloths; A child repofing
“ under a coverlet o f wool.”—
The laft fpecies o f poetry, o f which we ihall make mention, is
that which is common both to the Finns and Laplanders; we
mean thofe runic verfes which are fuppofed to be endowed with
magical and extraordinary virtues. Thefe fongs, which owe their
rife
rife to the darknefs o f gentilifm, were not filenced when thofe nations
became enlightened by the gofpel; they were even interpolated
in the times o f papal fuperftition for the purpofe o f deluding
the people ; and thefe will probably be the laft o f the runic verfes
that will be forgotten, as notwithftanding all the induftry o f the
clergy to root out fuch prejudices from the minds o f the people,
the Finns ftill privately favour and countenance thefe fongs, being
ftrongly o f opinion, that they are pofleffed o f fecret virtues, and
have a fuperior degree o f efficacy when employed.
In point o f compofition they are confidered by many as inefti-
mable monuments o f antiquity, and perfeft models o f genuine
runic poetry. T he y are diftinguiftted by their admirers from the
common runic verfes fung at public meetings, which by them are
accounted profane. Some o f a fpecies named lugut, or ledures,
are never fung, but delivered privately in a low murmuring voice,
accompanied with horrid gefticulations.
T h e Finns have many runic verfes which are fuppofed to contain
healing powers, and thofe are ftyled fanat, or charms; as
madan-fanat, charms for the bite o f a ferpent; tulen-fanat, charms
to cure fcalds or burns; raudan-fanat, charms to heal wounds,
& c. &c.
Thefe charms, as has been already obferved, are very numerous;
and though not much efteemed by the inhabitants o f the fea-
coaft, are in the higheft repute amongft thofe who dwell in the
interior and mountainous parts o f the country. This is likely
to continue to be the cafe, as long as the practice o f phyfic rer
r t T t - ma in s
V o l . I. *