42 ESTRONIAN POETRY, 



XL Bridal fonnet. A man in boots comes up to a 

 German. The boor goes in a kind of flipper made of 

 ruiii-matting, tied faft to his feet by packthread. 



Yerven is held to be the moft fertile province of 

 Efthonia. The condition of the peafants here is, in 

 general, better than in the other circles. Hence the 

 luxury of a cocked-hat. — The maiden flatters herfelf 

 with the hopes of marrying a German, confequently to 

 one above her rank, but at length gets nothing better 

 than a boor from Yerven. Now to the fong itfelf. 



Hark, my maid, my little bride ! 

 As thou greweft up in the houfe, 

 Thou wenteft like a fwan in the fnow, 

 Like a grey goofe in the hedge, 

 Thou wafhedft thy hair in the water of the lake, 

 And thine eyes with the fuds of white foap ; 

 Thou thoughtefr. to conquer a man with boots, 

 Arid to get thee one with a handfome hat. 

 Thou fcornedft the eager youths 

 As the viJefr flaves of Vierland, 

 For one cocked-hat from Yerven — 

 And this is the man whofe locks thou didft comb 

 And ufe every art to win ' 



XII. Nuptial fong. 



Young maid, young woman ! 

 When thou grewft up in the houfe, 

 Thou wert precious as gold at home, 



* Literally, Such is the man whofe feet thou didft tickle. 



.As 



