Recordings from the Estonian Folklore Archives 3

The Cleanliness of the Vessels

Albert Lauri Anna (1965)

Peretütar, neitsikene,
kui viitsid olla virku,
pühi toad, laami lauad,
ari akende alused,
pane aga peekrid pinusse,
kannud pane kaevu ääre piale!
Kumasid sinu kul´bivarred,
läikisid sinu lähkripõhjad –
kilter arvas kuu kumama,
kubjas päeva tõusemaie.

Daughter of the house, dear maiden,
if you take the trouble to be diligent,
sweep the floors, clear the tables,
clean under the window sills,
put the beakers in a row,
put the pitchers by the edge of the well!
The handles of your ladles were glowing,
the bottoms of your kegs were sparkling –
the overseer thought the moon to be shining,
the taskmaster thought the day to be dawning.

RKM, Mgn. II 1057 h < Paide raj., Paide kn., Purdi as. (Anna khk.) – O. Kõiva Kirjandusmuuseumi ekspeditsioonil 1965. a. < Albert Lauri, s. 1904. a.
[LP V b 2; CD2-7].