the old smith

Also known as: the smith · Role: smith · First appears: Canto VI · The Kalevide and the Sword-smiths

In Canto VI · The Kalevide and the Sword-smiths, the old smith had completed an incomparable sword commissioned by Kalev, who had died before the work was finished. The Kalevide tested several swords before showing the strength of a huge blade on the anvil; the smith gave him the completed sword, and the Kalevide thanked him and promised to pay its full price on his return to Esthonia.

The smith’s eldest son confronted the Kalevide over his words about a maiden’s honour. After the Kalevide slew his son in a drunken quarrel, the smith called on his sons to let him pass, cursed him, and called on the sword to avenge the crime.

Relationship record

Life events

• Kalevide tested several swords, breaking them, before demonstrating the strength of a huge sword on the anvil.(Canto VI · The Kalevide and the Sword-smiths)
  • With: Kalevide
  • “The youths brought in an armful of the very best, and the Kalevide chose a huge sword, which he brandished like a reed in his right hand, and then brought down on the anvil. The sword cut deep into the iron, and the blade did not fly, but the sharp edge was somewhat blunted.”
• The smith's incomparable sword, commissioned by Kalev, was completed after Kalev had died.(Canto VI · The Kalevide and the Sword-smiths)
  • With: Kalev
  • “It had been bespoken by Kalev himself, but he had not lived till the work was completed.”
• Kalevide accepted Kalev's completed sword and promised to pay its full price upon returning to Esthonia.(Canto VI · The Kalevide and the Sword-smiths)
  • With: Kalevide
  • “Then the hero joyfully expressed his thanks to the smith for forging such a splendid sword, and promised to bring him the full price demanded upon his return to Esthonia.”
• The old smith cursed Kalevide and called on the sword to avenge his son's death.(Canto VI · The Kalevide and the Sword-smiths)
  • With: Kalevide
  • “But the drunken giant advanced against them with his sword, defying them to the combat; and the smith, recognising the hopelessness of any attempt against him, cried to his sons to let him pass and leave vengeance to the gods, cursing him like a mad dog, and calling on the sword itself to avenge the crime.”

Canto VI · The Kalevide and the Sword-smiths

• recipient: Kalevide “The son of Kalev received the huge blade from the hands of the smith with reverence, and whirled it round like a fiery wheel, and it whistled through the air like the tempest that breaks oaks and unroofs houses.”
• child: the eldest son of the smith “Upon this, the eldest son of the smith, his father's pride and joy, sprang forward, denouncing him for his aspersions on the maiden's honour.”

Also listed in Other Figures — Minor Figures

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Extracted from the original text of The Kalevipoeg. Made with Rho MD.