“In the waves at goodly distance, Quickly from the sea it rises On the sixth and seventh billows, Lifts its head above the waters, Out of reach of fishing-tackle, Then addresses Wainamoinen, Chiding thus the ancient hero: “Wainamoinen, ancient minstrel, Do not think that I came hither To be fished for as a salmon, Only to be chopped in pieces, Dressed and eaten like a whiting Make for thee a dainty breakfast, Make for thee a meal at midday, Make for thee a toothsome supper, Make the fourth meal of the Northland.” Spake the ancient Wainamoinen: “Wherefore didst thou then come hither, If it be not for my dinner?” Thus the nameless fish made answer: “Hither have I come, O minstrel, In thine arms to rest and linger, And thyself to love and cherish, At thy side a life-companion, And thy wife to be forever; Deck thy couch with snowy linen, Smooth thy head upon the pillow, Sweep thy rooms and make them cheery, Keep thy dwelling-place in order, Build a fire for thee when needed, Bake for thee the honey-biscuit, Fill thy cup with barley-water, Do for thee whatever pleases.”
A cook of roughly the same moment, setting down the same dish.
Take a piece of fresh salmon, wash it clean in a little wine-vinegar, and let it lye a little in it in a broad pipkin with a cover, put to it six spoonfuls of water, four of vinegar, as much of white-wine, some salt, a bundle of sweet herbs, a few whole cloves, a little large mace, and a little stick of cinamon, close up the pipkin with paste, and set it in a kettle of seething water, there let it stew three hours; thus you may do carps, trouts, or eels, and alter the taste at your pleasure.
Sources: The passage is from Unknown, Kalevala : the Epic Poem of Finland — Complete, tr. Crawford, John Martin, free to read in full at Project Gutenberg. The recipe is from May, The accomplisht cook of 1660, also free in full. Both are in the public domain in the United States. The binding above is ours — burgundy cloth, ship stamp.