[1]
Kauan sitten kyl n p ss syntyi kaksi poikaa,
kaksi perillist sodanjumalan karhuntaljoin verhotun.
Jo kolmen i st , sanovat, toisiansa alkoivat harjoittaa
ja kun ter ksens yhteen kalahti, saattoi kuulla ukkosen.

Kauan sitten kyl n p ss varttui kaksi poikaa,
kaksiko vain typeryst kuolemaa pilkkaamaan?
Ei yksik n haava viel ollut tehnyt
teht v ns
ja siksi kai sit miekasta vihollisen t ytyi anoa.

Aina kunnia houkuttaa nuorta kansaa
(ry st retki merten taa) ja taistelu sit kin enemm n.
Varmaan turmaan rient v n tielle
vain toinen hullu uskaltautuu.

[2]
Kun kentt hohkaa k rsimyst ja kirveet lent v t,
leikki kanssa kuoleman vain yltyy.
Niin riemukasta lapsien on p it pudottaa
kuunnellessaan sotajoukkoa hurraavaa.

[3]
Usein k ykin vain niin et' vertaisesta tulee alempi.
Tarinan kulku voitoista k ntyy
ja maine ihmisen helposti antaa veljens unohtaa.

Ylpeys, tuo kavalin tauti p ll maan,
n in on vienyt taas yhden uhrin muassaan.
Kumpi lie se epatto, kilpi alhaalla ja miekka koholla
teilleen mennyt vaiko h n joka hautoja kaivaa saa?

Heikompaa voima mik' riepottaa;
kotinsa on i ksi j tt nyt tahtoen viel surmata.
Kunniaton moinen ty .

[English translation:]

[A VILLAGE AWAY]

[1]
Long ago a village away there were born two sons,
two heirs of the god of war dressed in bearskins.
From the age of three, they say, each other they did train
and when their steel did clash thunder could be heard.

Long ago a village away there did grow two sons,
or were they just two fools born to mock their deaths?
Still they hadn't got a wound that would've hurt'd enough
to prevent them from begging such from a foreign blade.

Honour always tempts the young blood
(plundering across the seas) and battles even more.
Into the way of the one rushing to his doom
only another insane dares step.

[2]
When the field emits pain and axes fly about,
play with death is on the increase.
Such a joy for children the dropping of heads is
as long as their army cheers.

[3]
Yet so often equality becomes inferiority.
The course of a story twists at triumphs
and fame so easily lets a man forsake his kin.

Thus pride, that most insidious illness on all earth,
once again has taken its prey.
Which one might be the failure, he who left with a lowered
shield and sword held high or he who has to dig the graves?

Tossed about is the weaker by what force;
his home he has left, gained just more will to slay.
What a disgrace is such work.