# Rune XLII: Capture of the Sampo explained — The Kalevala > Chapter companion for The Kalevala by Elias Lönnrot. ## What happens Wainamoinen, Ilmarinen, and Lemminkainen journey to Pohyola to seize the Sampo. Louhi refuses to share it, so Wainamoinen uses his harp to put the Northland people to sleep. Lemminkainen loosens the Sampo by plowing its roots with a mighty ox, and the heroes carry it to their ship. As they sail home, Lemminkainen's discordant singing awakens a crane, which alerts Louhi. She raises a storm and sends Iku-Turso to attack, but Wainamoinen subdues the monster. Ukko then sends violent winds that tear the magic harp from the ship into the sea. Despite the loss, Wainamoinen repairs the vessel and steers safely through the perils. ## Themes in this chapter ### Power of Song and Magic Wainamoinen's harp puts the Northlanders to sleep and later is lost to the sea; Lemminkainen's singing awakens a crane, triggering Louhi's attack. ### Conflict Between North and South The heroes from Kalevala journey to Pohyola to seize the Sampo, leading to a direct confrontation with Louhi and her forces. ### Craftsmanship and Creation The Sampo is a crafted treasure; Ilmarinen's skill as a blacksmith is implied in opening the mountain locks. ## Character check-ins ### Wainamoinen Leads the expedition, uses magic harp to enchant the Northlanders, steers the ship, and subdues Iku-Turso. ### Ilmarinen Rows the war-ship, anoints the locks to open the mountain, and laments the dangers of the voyage. ### Lemminkainen Rows the war-ship, enters the mountain to retrieve the Sampo, plows its roots with an ox, and sings discordantly, awakening a crane that alerts Louhi. ### Louhi Hostess of Pohyola, refuses to share the Sampo, raises a storm and sends Iku-Turso to attack the heroes. ### Ahto King of the sea-waves; his people carry off the magic harp after it falls into the water. ### Iku-Turso Sea-monster sent by Louhi to attack the ship; captured and released by Wainamoinen, never to rise again. ## Key lines > Wainamoinen, old and truthful, With the blacksmith, Ilmarinen, With the reckless son of Lempo, Handsome hero, Kaukomieli, On the sea's smooth plain departed... Wainamoinen, Ilmarinen, and Lemminkainen set sail across the calm sea toward the cold, dreary Northland. _Opening of the chapter; the heroes embark on their quest for the Sampo._ > Louhi, hostess of the Northland, Thus addressed the stranger-heroes: 'Magic heroes of Wainola, What the tidings ye are bringing To the people of my village?' Louhi asks the heroes what news they bring to Pohyola. _Louhi confronts the heroes upon their arrival._ > Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, Gave this answer to the hostess: 'All the hosts of Kalevala Are inquiring for the Sampo, Asking for the lid in colors; Hither have these heroes journeyed To divide the priceless treasure.' Wainamoinen tells Louhi they have come to claim a share of the Sampo. _Wainamoinen states their purpose._ > Thus the hostess spake in answer: 'No one would divide a partridge, Nor a squirrel, with three heroes; Wonderful the magic Sampo, Plenty does it bring to Northland...' Louhi refuses to share the Sampo, comparing it to a partridge or squirrel that one would not divide among three. _Louhi's refusal sets the stage for conflict._ > Wainamoinen, wise and ancient, Hastened to his harp of fish-bone, And began his magic playing; All of Pohya stopped and listened, Every warrior was silenced By the notes of the magician... Wainamoinen plays his fish-bone harp, enchanting all of Pohyola into silence and then sleep. _Wainamoinen uses his harp to incapacitate the Northlanders._ > Lemminkainen finds the wonder, Finds the Sampo in the mountain, Labors long with strength heroic, Tugs with might and main to turn it; Motionless remains the treasure, Deeper sinks the lid in colors, For the roots have grown about it, Grown nine fathoms deep in sand-earth. Lemminkainen discovers the Sampo in the mountain but cannot move it because roots have grown nine fathoms deep around it. _The Sampo is firmly rooted in the earth._ > Lived a mighty ox in Northland, Powerful in bone and sinew, Beautiful in form and color, Horns the length of seven fathoms... Lemminkainen, reckless hero, Harnesses the ox in pasture, Takes the master-plow of Pohya, Plows the roots about the Sampo, Plows around the lid in colors, And the sacred Sampo loosens, Falls the colored lid in silence. Lemminkainen harnesses a huge ox and uses Pohyola's plow to cut the roots, freeing the Sampo. _The Sampo is finally loosened and taken._ > Wainamoinen, wise and ancient, Answered thus wild Lemminkainen: 'Let none sing upon the blue-sea, On the waters, no rejoicing; Singing would prolong our journey, Songs disturb the host of rowers...' Wainamoinen warns Lemminkainen not to sing at sea, as it would delay their journey and disturb the rowers. _Wainamoinen advises against singing during the voyage._ > Thereupon wild Lemminkainen, Handsome hero, Kaukomieli, Raised his voice above the waters, O'er the sea his song resounded; But his measures were discordant, And his notes were harsh and frightful. Lemminkainen sings loudly and discordantly, his harsh voice echoing across the sea. _Lemminkainen's singing is unpleasant and disruptive._ > Sat a crane within the rushes, On a hillock clothed in verdure, And the crane his toes was counting; Suddenly he heard the singing Of the wizard, Lemminkainen; And the bird was justly frightened At the songs of the magician. Then with horrid voice, and screeching, Flew the crane across the broad-sea To the lakes of Sariola, O'er Pohyola's hills and hamlets, Screeching, screaming, over Northland, Till the people of the darkness Were awakened from their slumbers. A crane counting its toes is startled by Lemminkainen's singing and flies screeching over Pohyola, waking the people. _The crane's alarm alerts Louhi to the theft._ > Louhi hastens to her hurdles, Hastens to her droves of cattle, Hastens also to her garners, Counts her herds, inspects her storehouse; Undisturbed she finds her treasures. Quick she journeys to the entrance To the copper-bearing mountain, Speaks these words as she approaches: 'Woe is me, my life hard-fated, Woe to Louhi, broken-hearted! Here the tracks of the destroyers, All my locks and bolts are broken By the hands of cruel strangers!' Louhi checks her livestock and storehouse, finds them untouched, then goes to the mountain and discovers the Sampo is gone, lamenting her fate. _Louhi realizes the Sampo has been stolen._ > Wainamoinen, old and truthful, Freed the monster, Iku-Turso, Sent him to his deep sea-castles, Spake these words to him departing: 'Iku-Turso, son of Old-age, Nevermore arise from ocean, Nevermore let Northland-heroes See thy face above the waters!' Wainamoinen releases Iku-Turso and commands him never to rise from the sea again. _Wainamoinen banishes the sea-monster._ > Then the King of all creators, Mighty Ukko of the heavens, Made the winds blow full of power, Made the storms arise in fury, Made them rage upon the waters. From the west the winds came roaring, From the north-east came in anger, Winds came howling from the south-west, Came the winds from all directions, In their fury, rolling, roaring, Tearing branches from the lindens, Hurling needles from the pine-trees, Blowing flowers from the heather, Grasses blowing from the meadow, Tearing up the very bottom Of the deep and boundless blue-sea. Ukko sends a violent storm from all directions, tearing up trees and the seabed. _A great storm arises, causing chaos._ > Roared the winds and lashed the waters Till the waves were white with fury; Tossed the war-ship high in ether, Tossed away the harp of fish-bone, Magic harp of Wainamoinen, To the joy of King Wellamo, To the pleasure of his people, To the happiness of Ahto, Ahto, rising from his caverns, On the floods beheld his people Carry off the harp of magic To their home below the billows. The storm tosses the ship and throws Wainamoinen's magic harp into the sea, where King Wellamo and Ahto's people take it to their underwater home. _The magic harp is lost to the sea._ > Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, Heavy-hearted, spake these measures: 'I have lost what I created, I have lost the harp of joyance; Now my strength has gone to others, All my pleasure too departed, All my hope and comfort vanished! Nevermore the harp of fish-bone Will enchant the hosts of Suomi!' Wainamoinen laments the loss of his harp, feeling that his strength and joy are gone. _Wainamoinen mourns the loss of his magical instrument._ > Then the ancient Wainamoinen Spake and these the words he uttered: 'Weep no more, my goodly comrades, In my bark let no one murmur; Weeping cannot mend disaster, Tears can never still misfortune, Mourning cannot save from evil.' Wainamoinen tells his comrades not to weep, as tears cannot fix their misfortune. _Wainamoinen urges resilience despite the loss._ > All the heroes of Wainola Call their forces to the rescue, And repair the sinking vessel. By the aid of master-magic, Wainamoinen saved his war-ship, Saved his people from destruction, Well repaired his ship to battle With the roughest seas of Northland; Steers his mighty boat in safety Through the perils of the whirlpool, Through the watery deeps and dangers. The heroes repair the ship with magic, and Wainamoinen steers it safely through the whirlpool and other dangers. _The ship is saved and continues its journey._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters/rune-xlii-capture-of-the-sampo - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_kalevala_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_kalevala_se/chapters