Bird Gods in Ancient Euro 



pe 



in the first chapter noticed Aino after she 

 suffered a sea change ; here she is about to 

 take the leap. 



The violence of Aino's grief betrays the fact 

 that something worse than merely marriage 

 with an old man lies behind her words. She 

 is the same person as Syrinx, the nymph who 

 flees from Pan and turns to a reed rather than 

 yield to his embraces. Vaino's bride exclaims : 



Better had it been for Aino 

 Had she never seen the sunlight. 

 Or if born had died an infant, 

 Had not lived to be a maiden 

 In these days of sin and sorrow 

 Underneath a star so luckless ! 

 Needed then but little linen. 

 Needed but a httle coffin 

 And a grave of smallest measure. 



As Aino leaps into the water she addresses 

 her sister in words that bring the Finnish 

 nymph very close to Syrinx of Arcadia : 



Sister dear, I sought the sea-side. 



There to sport among the billows. 



126 



