They longed to serve the Fatherland,To fight and make its troubles cease.-But Destiny's will had not thus plannedA life for them of joy and peace.Then came the day they chose, againTo journey back where they were born,And so Bearslayer spoke out plain,The people how to live would warn.
Koknesis confesses his love for Spidala
Koknesis, walking sunk in thought,The island crossed with solemn stride,The pleasant valley pensive sought,Where, in the well, the witch had died.
Far off, a flame soon caught his gaze,And near the well, his searching viewShowed Spidala beside the blaze,With magic staff and package too.Enchanted words aloud she spoke,As both into the fire she cast:"Into thin air, like dust or smoke,Now vanish: Make me free at last!"
At this there reared up from the pyre,And hung a moment in the air,A writhing dragon made of fire,That crackling vanished soon from there.The earth devoured the fire away,And twilight cloaked the valley floor.Then Spidala fell down and lay,While from her eyes flowed tears once more.
Touched now, Koknesis took her part,And gently spoke and helped her rise:"Why, little one, so sick at heart,That tears flow from your comely eyes?"Then Spidala felt rising shame,Her answer spoke with voice so small:"These tears I weep in joy's sweet name,And for the future's hope they fall."
"I yearn to start my life once more,The evil of the past put by.-Forget whatever here you saw,And let my secret with you lie.Though soon our paths will separate stand,Your memory long my heart will keep."At this Koknesis took her hand,And answered her with feelings deep:
"Oh, Spidala, your secret darkFor all my life will stay well hid.Already but the half you markOf wicked things that once you did;Then why should I remember them?But I a secret now must tell,Which, if your heart does not contemn,Will link our paths together well."
"Fair Spidala, I love you true.Come, travel now with me life's quest!"-When Spidala his heart's love knew,She paled and asked with heaving breast:"Have you not yet, Koknesis, learned,Whom you as bride seek to persuade?Beside this well just now I burnedA compact with the Devil made!"
"I know," then said Koknesis stern,"But that it vanished also saw!I know too what respect those earnWho fall and yet rise up once more.More surely to their feet they riseThan those who never fall have known."When Spidala, stunned by surprise,Still hesitated, this his tone:
If his first love her could not reach,Then it had been a better fateTo stay as stone upon the beach.-At this she did not hesitate:"If love so strong is felt by you,I cannot seek another man;So take me, I will be as true,As in this world a woman can!"
With joy Koknesis held her tight,And kissed her tears away complete.-A warm breeze wafted through the night;It was Great Laima's blessing sweet.
They return home safely
Then came the day they homeward sailed,Their ship set forth upon the sea.The island's magic power had failed,And from the spell the ship was free.-
His friends Koknesis told his love,Bearslayer and Laimdota too.Both now rejoiced, since from aboveSuch happiness is sent to few.All sorrows now they soon forgot,That they had suffered in the past.Their strong desire to leave this spot,Back to their land of birth at last.-
No more delays to block them seemed;The North Wind sent no raging storm,As though the great Sea Mother deemedTheir journey worthy to perform.The far horizon showed them clear,Thick forests that they joyful hailed,The shore rose up, drew ever near.-Into the Daugava's mouth they sailed.
The people come together and give thanks
In Latvia now Midsummer came,Called forth its children with one word,The country over, all the same,Now "Ligo, Ligo," clear was heard!
The nightingale with sweet refrainBy every brook and streamlet trilled.Midsummer, Liga's Eve, againThe carefree folk with pleasure filled.
Up to the Azure Mountain borne,The logs burned bright, for fires thence hauled.The Ligusoni Priests' loud hornAll to the festive evening called.
And thence they came, both young and old,Both great and small, a happy throng.The men brought mead from honey gold,The wives brought cheese and bread along.The lads and lasses with them boreSoft grass and wreaths of flowers too,That on Midsummer's Eve all wore,Adorned themselves, and pleasure knew.
They danced, they ate, they drank,And down their offerings put;The priests, the folk to thank,Led to the altar's foot,Poured goblets full of mead,Burned costly herbs and rare,Whose sweet aromas, freed,Rose swirling in the air.
Together they all sangThe famous songs and prayers,That to the goddess rang,And solace brought from cares:
"With love we look to you,Ligo, Ligo,Linked here in friendship true,Ligo!"
"Our humble farms now bless,Ligo, Ligo,Fill barns with your largesse,Ligo!"
"Now saddle your grey horse,Ligo, Ligo!Ride round our fields your course,Ligo!"
"Sow seeds of grass and grain,Ligo, Ligo,Fine barley grow again,Ligo!"
"For meadow grass we pray,Ligo, Ligo,Our heifers give fine hay,Ligo!"
"Let hay our heifers eat,Ligo, Ligo,Our colts feed oats grown sweet,Ligo!"
"Make all the flowers grow,Ligo, Ligo,That on our hillsides blow,Ligo!"
"Let maidens braid their hair,Ligo, Ligo,With wreaths of flowers fair,Ligo!"
"Give young men on all sides,Ligo, Ligo,Hardworking beauteous brides,Ligo!"
"To all our daughters yield,Ligo, Ligo,Strong men to till the field,Ligo!"
"Come to our farmyards near,Ligo, Ligo,Your children visit here,Ligo!"
"Guard us from evil's spell,Ligo, Ligo,That we may love you well,Ligo, Ligo,And of you we may tell,Ligo!"
The ancestors' spirits call the people to live in harmony
While rich the sound of song rose highAcross the vale and woodland's tops,The shadows of their sires gone byAppeared within the sacred copse.Beneath the leafy oaks once more,To guard the people's soul they sped.-The priests these heroes passing saw,And reverent covered each his head.
The eldest of the priests then spoke,The teachings of their fathers told:In harmony and peace the folkEach to the other ought to hold;To give their brethren help and aid,When they were caught in suffering's grip.-Then soon both old and young obeyed,And all joined hands in fellowship.
They promised friendship through the land,And those in strife with fellow menWent to them, offered warm their hand,And lovingly sought peace again.
There in the grove upon the hill,Close to the gods come face to face,The folk could settle every ill,Blessed by the spirits' saving grace.
In groups there seated on the grass,The fathers and their wives agreedWithin their family gifts to pass,While jugs and horns, filled up with mead,Passed all along from row to row,And each one drank a healthy pull.Then bread and cheese passed to and fro,And all was tasted to the full.
They ate and drank, discussed the year:Men had with workmates much to say,And women saw, again drawn near,Clan sisters come from far away.And even greybeards friends could spy,Their childhood comrades there could find,Companions from the days gone by,The age of youth, now left behind.
Midsummer's Eve best pleased the young;Their songs through wood and valley rang.The lads in crowds to love gave tongue,Hot-blooded songs of passion sang.The lasses answered, love denied-But in each maid was clear the case,The time she scarcely could abide,Until her love she would embrace.
Now closer pushed the youths in rows,Close to the maidens to advance,Until each found the one he chose,And hand in hand they joined the dance.
The Lord of Lielvarde brings terrible news
Beneath the oak trees on the hill,That by the sacred grove near stood,The priests and chieftains talked their fillOf war and peace, things bad and good.-The runic scriptures in the groveShowed grim portents that warning gave.To know their fate the leaders strove;Their faces and their talk were grave.
Old Burtnieks was plain in viewWith Aizkrauklis, and though delayed,The Lielvarde Lord came too,And soon a speech the old man made.He warmly uttered greetings strong,As old companions welcomed him,Then took his place before the throng,And told them there his tidings grim:
"You Chieftains gathered on this hill,Do not yet know the fate that looms,The threat that all with fear must fill,And Latvia's folk to serfdom dooms.-Near Daugava's mouth, as well you know,Upon the river's bank arrayed,The Livians let the Strangers go,And settle there to work and trade."
"But later they were joined by more,By men in armour iron-clad,Who with the spring came by the score,And works have done that we forbade.They now control the river lands:At Ikskile a castle-work,At Salaspils a fortress stands.-In these like beasts the plunderers lurk."
"Like cunning foxes first they soughtWith everyone to be a friend;Like ravenous wolves then victims caught,All prey devoured, right to the end.The Livian lands are now laid waste,Each village plundered, burned in spite;The men and women slaughter faced,Who stood against the Strangers' might."
"Survivors even lose their soul,Compelled a foreign faith to take.And clear we see now that their goalIs conquest of our folk to make.They seek to break the people's pride,Upon them serfdom's yoke to place,Among themselves then to divideAll lands within the Baltic space."
"Upon a day now passed not long,The people made report to meOf foreign soldiers armoured strongTo Leilvarde riding free.Still full of hope, great haste I made,And armed my people straight away.We stood behind our palisade,Drawn up to face them in the fray."
"I asked them plainly why they came.A mighty knight then forward went,And said that Daniel was his name,By Riga's Bishop he was sentTo seize all Lielvarde's space.But if I wished he would allowThat I might live there by his grace-In my own home a vassal now!"
"His own stone castle he would build,That for himself to raise he planned,And hostages to take he willed,From every village in my land.From farms a tenth part was his now,And of their crops a share was due.The Church's Father for each ploughWould take from them a levy too."
"Such shamelessness I bitter spurned.It would destroy my ancient home:Possessions plundered, houses burned,The people would be slaves to Rome.-Together with a little bandI fled to safety from their ranks,And came to Dabrels in his land,Found refuge on the Gauja's banks."
"Some Latvian Lords who shared my plight,Came to this stronghold, where they thoughtWith warriors bold to stand and fight,And threw up ramparts round the fort.They, with the Livs as allies, triedTo stand against the Strangers' strength;All hoped that though some would have died,They would defeat the knights at length."
"By Daniel warned about their stand,A troop of knights the Bishop sent,To travel to the Gauja land;Among them riding, Kaupa went.-In Turaida in open show,The Christian faith he now professed,And formed deep friendships with the foe,That all his people sore distressed."
"The Gauja fort for Christ to win,With knights he soon began to seek.The mind of Dabrels doubt put in,And made our fathers' gods seem weak.He said the Bishop had come here,To hold from Riga's Castle sway,And cherish as his children dear,All those who would the Pope obey."-
"High on the ramparts Rusin spoke,Sought Kaupa's message to reject,As was the custom of his folk,His helm removed to show respect.A heavy arrow from a bowThen struck his unprotected head,And mortal wounded by the blowDown to the ground he toppled dead."
"All were enraged by this base deed,Ran from the palisade pell-mell;They charged the Strangers without heed,And slaughtered them until night fell."
"But reinforcements soon were sentTo help the Strangers in the fray;The Latvians then withdrew and wentInto their fort to wait for day."
"For days and weeks sharp was the fight,Until at last the stockade fell,Defeated by the foemen's might,Like heroes though our men fought well.At length the Latvians, nearly allFound death upon the ramparts high.-And having lost this sheltering wall,Our people's lands defenceless lie."
"The Bishop soon his ranks will fill;In sorrow, Lords, such news I send,But, if we do our gods' just will,Our fight will know a happy end.For still in Latvia's rolling landsAre men by whom sharp spears are made,And still a hundred hundred handsThat well know how to wield a blade."
"So, sound the trumpet, beat the drum,Our warriors brave to war to send,And straight they will as one man come,To fight for freedom to the end!"
Bearslayer comes to lead them in the fight
While, shocked, the chieftains listened well,Around them through the valley wideThe songs of Liga silent fell.-But then a hundred voices cried:"Bearslayer, see, where he comes near!"Rejoicing, people called his name.Into the grove, unchecked by fear,With his companions now he came.
Bearslayer, with Laimdota, andDark Spidala their sires embraced,While firm Koknesis gave his hand.Reunion's joy all gloom displaced.A special joy the fathers knewTo see their children safe that day-Now with the young folk close in view,Grave peril's threat seemed far away!
With his companions close to him,Bearslayer in the council sat.To all reports he listened grim,And what had passed he learned from that.His heart felt deep and burning pain,His eyes in anger glowed with hate,When, told the story once again,He learned of Lielvarde's fate.
The priests proclaimed the night at end,And prayed that all their people dearThe god's salvation would defend,But urged their sons to show good cheer,And courage, if they must, to fall,For other folk to give their life.-At this, in thoughtful manner allNow homeward went, prepared for strife.
The chieftains knew that soon their lotWould be to fight upon this ground,But still upon this hillside spot,The sun's first rays the council found.They sat together, talking more:As one they pledged to make a stand,Destroy the Strangers in a war,Or drive them all from out the land.
Upon their spears this oath they swore,Bearslayer their commander made,The whole assembled host before,And named Koknesis to give aid,With Talvaldis as second man.-Then, once again to friendship sworn,At last the chiefs, as time fast ran,The Azure Mountain left at dawn.
Bearslayer's captains, in a band,With Aizkrauklis and Spidala rode,Laimdota too was close at hand,To Burtnieks his sire's abode.The youthful couples wished, once there,To celebrate their wedding vow,And in this ancient manor fair,Take priests' and fathers' blessings now.
Bearslayer's Wedding
"Why does my garland sitSo crooked on my brow?How could it straighter fit,Weighed down with gossip now!"
"While I my garland wore,Of Laima was no heed;I wear it now no more,And, weeping, Laima need."
"Oh thatch a house with reeds,Put silver pegs beneath,So that our sister, needs,Can hang her oaken wreath."
"The rattling bridge astride,The groom now rides in view.My kinsmen, if you ride,Your swords will rattle too!"
"Look where in warrior's stateMy kinsmen do great deeds,With swords attend the gate,And calm their fretful steeds!"
Within the castle's palisadeThe relatives thus joyful call,Awaiting suitors there arrayed,Who ride up, seeking, to the wall.With many friends Bearslayer rodeBeside Koknesis to the fort,According to their ancient code,Like strangers, entrance there they sought.
They asked about a place to rest,For each, and also for his colt.-Within the gates now every guestDemanded answers to unbolt:From whence they came, to where they rode,If they were safe to have inside;Until Old Burtnieks forth strode,Himself the gates then opened wide.
Within the hall were tables laid,With sumptuous meals for feasting fit,And in the centre, clear displayed,Chairs where the suitors had to sit.
They asked to see the fairest maid;The wedding party led in some,But they rejected all displayed,Until Laimdota forth had come,With Spidala, and joined the folk.They wore rich clothes, and on their headWere decorated wreaths of oak,Bound with brocade and precious thread.
The suitors rose and praised each bride,And sat them in the chairs in state,And both men stood there close beside,And now began to ask them straightIf they would sell their garlands here.Such precious goods with payment highThey willingly would purchase dear.To which the guests made this reply:
"Not with a sack of gold or more,Can maidens such as these be bought.Through neither riches, nor through war,Can maidens such as these be caught."
But after both were full agreed.And when the men had promised fastTo guard them well, meet every need,The maidens gave consent at last.
To marry both, the priests now came.With ivy twined round leaves of oakTheir hands were joined in Laima's name;Meanwhile the priests this blessing spoke:"Just as the supple ivy curls,And round the oak itself entwines,So with the slender new-wed girls,Whom love now with their groom combines!"
The grooms before them gifts now spread-With tears her wreath gave up each bride.Then on their heads were placed insteadExpensive caps of marten's hide,Adorned with silver was each hat.Each new-wed bride went with her manUp to the table, where they sat.-The wedding banquet now began.
All day into the night it went;Led by the songs of choirs sweet,They danced until their strength was spent.But when the pairs went to their seat,Old Burtnieks, grown stern, requiredThat banqueting should early cease.-Much sooner, then, the guests retiredThan if their land had been at peace.
The Latvian warriors gather from all sides
The new-wed pairs did not have longTheir joyous unions to fulfil,Nor happiness to fashion strong,For Destiny's harsh unswerving willThe grooms soon called into the field,From loving arms the husbands tore,To where in armour spears men wield,And where their legs wade deep in gore.
War's trumpet Burtnieks now letOn every hilltop brassy sound,On every lofty mound they setAt night the watch-fires burning round.And every chieftain did the same,Passed on the sign the rest to show-A signal that to all soon came,To gather and to war to go.
In every village homestead then,Across the Latvian country broad,The people's sons, the younger men,Prepared for war, grasped spear and sword,And saddled up their dashing steeds.Each sister and each young man's brideAdorned their helmets, then must, needs,With tears and singing part-way ride.
Now soon on every road and track-They slept at night beneath a tree-A gathering host streamed to attack,And after two full days or three,Together came upon their course.Bearslayer led thence further groups,And at the meeting-place in force"All hail! All hail!" rejoiced the troops.
Old Burtnieks rode with them too,And Lielvardis-both of thoseClose by the fighting in full viewWished to remain until the close.No longer there Laimdota moreNor Spidala at home would stay;The two young brides forth to the war,Rode with the army on its way.
There, where the River Gauja fallsThrough gorges to the valleys' bounds,With palisades and earthen walls,Stood many strongholds built on mounds.Beside the streams in forests dense,There lived the clans and Latvian Lords.Led by Bearslayer riding thence,Here entered now the warlike hordes.
When they, in nests along the way,A German infestation found,The vermin pest was cleared that day.-They further marched and reached the groundThat used to Dabrels to belong.Here they encountered German knights,Who there had built a castle strongAnd fortified it for their fights.
Bearslayer took it back again,And many German knights there died,Who lost their lives against our men.-The host rolled on then like a tide,Far, in a surging wave, it flowedUnstoppable through vale and wood,Advanced until the soldiers rodeTo Turaida where Kaupa stood.
Here in the Livian people's lands,They plainly saw as they passed by,Each village lay in German hands.In fields of barley and of ryeThe golden grain swayed full and fat;The Livians ploughed and sowed the fields,But Strangers ate their fill of that,Then sold the straw and other yields.
And closely with the castles merged,Stood foreign churches, places whereThe priests and monks the people urgedThe Christian faith with them to share.But by the Strangers converts hereWere held as servants in their thrall;And from the Livians every yearThey took a tribute from them all.
A band of those not Christian turnedInto the unknown forest spilled,In deepest thickets clearings burned,And chopped down trees their huts to build,There kept the ancient gods' commands.-But even here the Bishop's spiesCould search them out and made demandsOf tribute that to all applies.
The recapture of Turaida
Alarmed by this advancing hordeThe Strangers fled from their estates,Left monks and churches to the sword,Withdrew inside Turaida's gates.Where soon, attacking in a ring,From all around Bearslayer fought,But found it not an easy thing,To conquer them the way he sought.
High on the walls were many knightsWhose heavy bolts, in hundreds loosed,Drove back the Latvians from the heights.But then Bearslayer's men producedA scaffold built of wooden planks,On which, in deepest dark of night,They breached the castle wall in ranks,And to its ramparts brought the fight.
The struggle filled them all with dread,And both at times had to withdraw,For both sides suffered many dead.-Bearslayer, at the very fore,Slew many knights, until at length,The armoured Germans all saw clearThat not their strongest matched his strength,And seeing this the knights knew fear.
So great this fear that at his sightThey threw their swords and shields aside,And let Bearslayer, without fight,Choose those who lived and those who died.-Bearslayer razed the castle's stone,While monasteries and churches highIn piles of ashes down were thrown,To Strangers refuge to deny.
False Kaupa was not there himself,But safe in Riga's Castle walls,Where more and more he kept his wealth,And dwelled within the Bishop's halls.
Among the foes who captive fellWas Dietrich too, the man of prayer.With lying tongue he sought to tell,At Kaupa's wish he had been there,Who gave to him the castle's ground.He therefore asked that as a guestAll those be seen, whom there they found,And granted life and spared arrest.
Bearslayer honoured Kaupa still,And so he thought to grant them this,But strong the Livs opposed his will,Since much with it they found amiss:For by this person's lying tongueA hundred times they were deceived,By word and deed they had been stung,The cruellest blows from him received.
Thus, if Bearslayer would allowThat Dietrich and the others live,To render justice they asked now,The ruthless priest to them to give.At this Bearslayer gave consentThat Dietrich there should pay the price,And to the sacred grove they went,To give their gods a sacrifice.
But if a prisoner rode a greyThat, stepping thrice across a spear,With left hoof each time led the way,This was a sign that showed them clear,The gods refused this man to take.The cunning Dietrich knew this lore,And so arranged the test to makeAnd saved himself, though death seemed sure.
The Strangers-those who were not dead-Were stripped of weapons, armour too,Bare-headed all to Riga led.-Then all the captured land in viewBearslayer gave the Livians back.Behind he left Talvaldis thenTo guard the Gauja from attack,Together with the Livian men.
Bearslayer took a second force;Swift with Koknesis forth he rode,And with his father set the courseTo what was once their own abode.
The return to Lielvarde
In Lielvarde now they saw,Like Turaida the Strangers thronged,And settled there with manner sure,As though to them it all belonged!Great anger Lielvardis feltAt what his folk had had to face,For Daniel Bannerov harsh dealt,And of compassion showed no trace.
There in the ancient stronghold's steadHe raised a castle's walls up high,And from it launched a reign of dread,In lands that near the Daugava lie.Forth thence he sallied and returned,Destroyed and looted any day,Both villages and houses burned,Oppressed the folk in every way.
Some elders then from him had fled,Who by such horrors were appalled.When to the woods their clans they led,A halt to plundering Daniel called.Swift messengers to them he sent,Who said oppression now had ceased;With them to live in peace he meant,And all invited to a feast.
These elders, yet who did not knowThe depths of Daniel's evil mind,Believed him and resolved to go,And peace with him there thought to find.Outside the wall with them to meet,To a pavilion Daniel went,Invited them to drink and eat,And seemed to speak with good intent.
But suddenly, from them concealed,While at the table they felt sure,He quickly went out in the field,And locked the stout pavilion's door-His murderous plan to start a fire!Around the building men piled straw,Then on all sides they lit the pyre,And soon they watched the hot flame soar.
The heat and smoke inside burst through,And all the elders loudly screamed,While Daniel and his butcher crewStood on the castle walls and beamed.With devilish laughter they looked back,But laughter turned to looks of fearWhen, riding from the forest track,Just then they saw armed men appear.
With shield and heavy spear arrayedBearslayer rode them all before.He heard the shouted cries for aid,And straight away broke down the door.Then with the help of other men,He quickly to the rescue went.The elders hailed Bearslayer then,As though by Heaven he were sent!
Their gratitude was not concealedThat rescue safe they had received;And then the elders plain revealed,How Daniel's lies had all deceived.On hearing of this devil's trick,Bearslayer's anger knew no bounds;He called his men together quick,And swore to take the castle's grounds.
Although the knights fought hard and long,And strove the fortress to defend,They could not block Bearslayer's throng,Who took the castle in the end.Then every captured knight they slew,And only one could still survive.Just Daniel Bannerov lived through,Was taken prisoner, yet alive.
The knight was given, on that day,Into the village elders' hands,Revenge to take in their own wayFor his base deeds within their lands.
Bearslayer and Laimdota know brief peace
Of Lielvarde word spread wide,It was Bearslayer's home once more!In every house on every side,To all, great joy the tidings bore.As though new-born all felt fresh life,And those, who to the forest's spaceHad fled from there to hide from strife,Returned and took their former place.
All hurried then in joyful ranksTo Lielvarde's castle gate,To greet Bearslayer and give thanksThat he had saved them from harsh fate;Their mood was bright with victory's glance.-A feast gave Lielvardis there,Where all could eat and drink and dance,And booty was divided fair.
The chiefs exulted, then one day,All thought of Daniel's crimes once more.They dragged him out, led him away,And took him to the Daugava's shore."You, German dog," to him they cried,"Through you we felt the fire's scald!But power now is on our side-To you we give the water's cold!"
They took a plank of wood at last,And on his back tied to the beamPlaced Daniel there, with ropes made fast,And pushed it in the river's stream:"Sail to your homeland back," they mocked,"Go seek your brothers' welcoming hands!And take the foreign faith, here blocked,Away with you to other lands!"
By fear they had not felt beforeThe Strangers all were gripped when toldAbout the mighty feats in warPerformed by Latvia's hero bold.They ran away from every sideAnd fled to Riga with one mind,In its cathedral sought to hide,In those strong walls a haven find.
But even there, in this dark hour,No longer safety Albert knew-That soon in Baltic lands his powerWould fade away, this was his view.And so, to get more armoured knights,He sailed the sea to German shore,Men to recruit to fight his fights,And in the spring renew the war.
In Riga, ruling in his place,He left false Kaupa, who explained,He would protect by God's good graceAll Christian Strangers who remained.
The danger now was fully spent,Bearslayer knew, throughout the land,And so his soldiers homeward sent.-In Lielvarde, hand in handPeace with Laimdota now found there.She worked inside all to restore,He strove the buildings to repair,And farmyard labours oversaw.
Koknesis too from war returned,And Aizkrauklis, from battle spent.With Spidala, to rest well earned,To Aizkraukle all three now went.From them with love they took their leaveBearslayer and Laimdota both;In parting sought not deep to grieve,To friends' good fortune made an oath.
Old Lielvardis, with his friend,To Burtnieks's castle rode.The two old men wished in the endTo make together their abode.
To satisfy their own deep needsNow lived Bearslayer and his bride.Although great fame came through their deeds,And honour from the people's side,There on the Daugava's pleasant shoreAt last they found what, all above,Their hearts throughout had missed so sore-Sweet happiness and married love!
The secret of Bearslayer's strength is revealed
The springtime came and, once again,Clothed hills and valleys all in green;And wakened nature's creatures then,That frisky gambolling could be seen.Within our Fatherland it seemedThat warlike times had safely passed.All stayed at home because they deemedThat springtime work should start at last.
They fixed the plough and beat the share,Worked hard each fence and yard to mend.-And even Kangars sought fresh air,And worked his garden beds to tend.He cut off branches, stakes drove in,To help the plants there healthy grow.His face looked sullen now, and thin,And let despairing feelings show.
The seed sown in his Fatherland,As everywhere, so with him too,Had borne a bitter fruit unplanned,And disappointment now he knew.The people no more came in need,As once in droves to him they poured;The Strangers took of him no heed.-But something else within him gnawed:
Bearslayer lived unharmed, and worse,Had lasting fame among the folk,And Spidala fled Satan's curse,When from his grasping claws she broke.
His future now was death, he knew,And all the torments that would give;Condemned he was, his last years through,With bitter heart each day to live.And so he scarcely felt more fear,When, as the sun was growing dim,He heard a voice, his garden near,In hollow tones that greeted him.
He raised his head, and at the gate,There cruel Dietrich came in view.Then Kangars spoke, these words to state:"I truly am amazed that youShould visit here, your presence show.Did growing fat on roasted meatWithin stone castles tedious grow?"Then Dietrich thus could Kangars greet:
"The feasts I ate there did not pall;But soon of them will be no more,Unless your powers heed my call.If you will help, reward is sure."
He said it was the Bishop's will,New troops to Riga soon to lead,But all would be in vain while stillBearslayer all the Baltic freed,And stood against the German force.From Kangars aid they sought, to showOf bold Bearslayer's strength the source,So that a knight could lay him low.
Then Kangars gave this answer back:Ten times he had upon the EarthLoosed giants and his demon pack,But all had been of little worth.Bearslayer killed them all in fights,And had escaped each plot in turn.If now Bearslayer scythed down knights,That were to Kangars small concern.
But yet, another circumstanceLed him to be the hero's foe-Though just what plan would have a chanceAgainst the youth, he did not know.Hell's demons often served him well,Consulted, they might find a way.If in his hut were fit to dwell,Then Dietrich there some time could stay.
That night then Kangars all aloneTight shut himself within his room,That Dietrich, if he heard him groan,Would not know fear within the gloom.At midnight then a whirlwind's throesShook hard the house from all around;Where Kangars dwelled loud groaning rose,And then was heard a screeching sound.
So horrible that, out of fear,On Dietrich's head stood up his hair;He crossed himself, such sounds to hear,And loud recited every prayer.-No pause to sleep by day or night,Long Kangars strove, help to invoke;The third day at the morning's light,These earnest words to Dietrich spoke:
"Accursed to all will be the dayBearslayer's secret was exposed;As traitors, curses too our pay.Here through our deeds, quite unopposed,The Evil One will soon be freeTo do at will each wicked deed.My guilty henchman, hark to me,To what I tell you pay good heed."
"A mother bear Bearslayer bore;The babe a holy hermit sired.His mother's line gave strength, but more-Through her the youth bear's ears acquired,And if opponents can prevail,And both his ears slice off with speed,His mighty power at once will fail.Enough! Go now. No thanks I need."
Bearslayer and the Black Knight fight to the death
The Bishop, Albert, now brought backA host of knights to fight anew.Among them was a knight in black,Who well the work of plundering knew.He claimed his mother was a witchWho guided him with magic charm,And he in devil's arts so rich,That never wound could cause him harm.
This Black Knight Dietrich chose, to fightAnd be his weapon in the fray,To beat Bearslayer's strength and might,And best him in a cunning way.He welcomed Kaupa too once more,To help them conquer with his sword,And in the name of God he swore,In Heaven all would find reward.
One day Bearslayer resting sat,Close by Laimdota in their hall,And idly talked of this and that.But over her now hung a pall;She was not happy as at first.-A time her thoughts she still concealed,Then in a trembling voice conversed,And with these words her plight revealed:
"Bearslayer, my beloved, speak,What can it mean that many a day,Against my wish, my mood is bleak,And in my heart cold fear holds sway?I am so happy, but I fearThat something could disturb our joy,For reasons that I do not know,And soon perhaps our life destroy."
Before Bearslayer love had shown,To calm her sorrow had contrived,The keeper of the gate made known,That friendly riders had arrived,And asked if he might let them through.-On looking out the window then,Bearslayer at the gate could view,With Kaupa in their midst, strange men.
Bearslayer did not hesitate-He recognized great Kaupa clear-And said to open up the gate,As guests, with honour brought them near.Now Kaupa said that they were sentBy Bishop Albert to make peace,And through the land as heralds went,That friendship strong might never cease.
Bearslayer never sought a warUnless the cause were justified.And so good will to Kaupa bore,And willing let him come inside.At Lielvarde they all stayedAs honoured guests so long they would.And for them there Bearslayer madeThe best provision that he could.
But still Laimdota restless grew,The Black Knight near her could not bear,Although he sought to change her viewWith gracious words and flattery fair.
Bearslayer ordered contests held,And tournaments were staged at length.Then came a day when both had felledOpponents beaten by their strength.The Black Knight to Bearslayer spoke,And made a challenge to a fight.The youth refused him with a joke;He did not wish to give a slight.
The Knight, however, angry seemed,And answered in a mocking way:No test of strength for him he deemed,To beat Bearslayer in a fray,Despite the boasting he had heard!Bearslayer did not tarry more,But at the Knight without a wordSwung hard the heavy sword he bore.
At first Bearslayer thought it sport,And jousted in light-hearted way;But, fighting fierce, the Black Knight broughtGreat strength and litheness to the fray.And suddenly in swift attackBearslayer's ear clean off he slit.Enraged, Bearslayer struck him back;His blow the Knight's stout armour split.
The Black Knight's blood began to pour,But bold Bearslayer's sword had cracked.The Knight saw this, and struck once more-The other ear his slash clear hacked!Bearslayer's anger knew no bound:He seized the Black Knight in his grasp;Their deadly struggle shook the ground,As now they fought to their last gasp.
Three times Bearslayer seized him fast,And seemed the heavy Knight to beat.Three times he staggered at the last;The Knight broke free with kicking feet.
The watching men stood pale with fear,As though their feet were rooted deep,While to the edge the two came near,Right to the lofty cliff-top steep.
The Daugava takes Bearslayer to its bosom
His foe at last Bearslayer flungInto the river's depths to drown,But round with heavy armour hung,The Black Knight dragged Bearslayer down.
The waters made a cracking sound,The waves surged high and took the pair,And, in their fight together bound,Down in the depths they vanished there!
Into the Daugava's surging floodNow sank the setting sun's pale glow.A thick mist rose and dripped like blood;The waves sighed mournful down below.
The foaming waters parted wide,And took the hero to their breast.An island rose up in the tide,And in this place he sank to rest.
Within the castle fearful screamsAnd cries of lamentation rose,And now Laimdota-dead her dreams-To end her life that moment chose.
The Latvian warriors, stricken sore,His kin and brethren, all in sum,Now, one by one, fell in the war,By stronger forces overcome.
The Strangers gained the upper hand,And ruled as lords, cruel and depraved:The well-loved people of the land,For centuries were all enslaved.
But still, though ages long pass by,The grieving folk his memory keeps.-For them, in death he does not lie,But in a golden palace sleeps.
Below the island risen there,He lies within the Daugava's breast,With Latvia's folk their fate to share,And close to Lielvarde rest.
From time to time, late in the night,The Daugava boatmen sometimes seeTwo men in combat on the height,In struggles that they cannot flee.
While in the castle ruins, clear,A little flame there flickers bright.The fighting men the edge come near,But take no heed, so hot their fight.
Until at last they cross the bounds,And deep into the depths they drop.-A scream within the castle sounds,The little flame's bright flickers stop.
It is Bearslayer struggling thereThe Strangers to eradicate.-But long Laimdota's watching stareUpon his triumph yet must wait.
But still, the day will come, is sure,When he the Black Knight will cast down:In Staburags's raging maw,His deadly foe alone will drown.
Then for the folk new times will dawn;At last their freedom will be born.
The entries in this section explain personal and place names for the purposes of the poem. I am not trying to give you a history or geography lesson! The material in square brackets after each Latvian word explains how I would like you to pronounce that word. This pronunciation is necessary for the metrical structure of the English-language poem, and may differ from standard Latvian pronunciation. I apologize for any offence that this causes. The syllable represented in the square brackets as "-a" should be pronounced as in "bad", the one represented as "-ah" as a long "bad". The syllable represented as "-e" should be pronounced as in "bed", "-o" as in "hot", "-oh" as in "throw,""oo" as in "zoo", "ow" as in "bough", "-u" as in "hut" and "uh" as in "book". Syllables in boldface should be stressed.
Aizkraukle [Eyes-krow-kle]: A Latvian stockade near the southern bank of the River Daugava, about 100 Km SE of Riga.
Aizkrauklis [Eyes-krow-kliss]: The Lord of Aizkraukle; father of Spidala.
Albert: The third Bishop of Uexküll (Latvian: Ikskile); sent by Pope Innocent III in 1199. He was the most effective in subjugating the Baltic people. He recruited the Sword Brothers (warrior monks and priests), who brought Christianity by force after diplo- macy and gifts failed.
All Souls Night: A night in October when the souls of the dear departed return to visit the living; comparable with Halloween.
Antrimps [Un-trimps}: The God of the Sea.
Austra [Ow-stru]: The Goddess of the Morning/the Dawn.
Azure Mountain: A sacred mountain where ancient writings were kept; meeting place of the folk at Midsummer.
Black Knight: A German knight brought to Latvia byBishop Albert to kill Bearslayer.
Burtnieks [Buhrt-nee-eks]: A wise Latvian Lord; teacher of Bearslayerand father of Laimdota.
Crystal Palace: The home of Staburadze beneath the whirl-pool of Staburags.
Dabrels [Dubb-rells]: A Latvian Lord whose stockade was on theRiver Gauja near modern-day Sigulda. Acrossthe river was Kaupa's stockade (Turaida).
Daniel [Dunn-yell]: The German knight who occupied Lielvarde(Bearslayer's home).
Daugava [Dow-g'vu]: The revered, almost sacred, principal riverof Latvia. Its course lies mainly SE of Riga,but it flows into the sea to the west of Riga.
Destiny's Father: A pseudomythological figure invented byPumpurs; the arbiter of human destiny-Fate.
Devil's Pit: A huge underground chamber dug under theRiver Daugava by the Devil.
Dietrich [Dee-trich]: A German priest who came to Latvia toprepare the way for Bishop Albert.
Dog-Snout Ogres: Mythological monsters in Latvianand Estonian folk tales.
Enchanted Isle: An island that draws ships to its shores. Itis inhabited by the demon sons of theOld Witch (see Canto II).
Evil One (the): The Devil.
Fiend (the) The Devil (when capitalized; otherwisea demon).
Gauja [Gow-yu]: The largest river entirely within Latvia.Its course lies NE of Riga.
Henry: A Latvian who was educated in Germany and became a Christian priest in Latvia. He is remembered as "Henry of Livonia"
Holy Father: The Pope; Celestine III proclaimed thethird Northern Crusade (the Baltic Crusade) in1193; Innocent III succeeded Celestine, andappointed Bishop Albert in 1198.
Ikskile [Eeks-chill-e]: A Livian town on the northern bank of theDaugava, SE of Riga; the Germans had alreadybuilt a fort there before the arrival ofAlbert.
Kalapuisis [Kull-u-poo-iss-iss]: A gigantic Estonian warrior; more or lessthe Estonian equivalent of Bearslayer.
Kangars [Kun-gars]: A Latvian holy man who had secretly made apact with the Devil.
Kaupa [Cow-pu]: A great Latvian Lord whose stockade wasat Turaida on the Gauja.
Kingdom of Dreams: A land in the east where sky and earth meetand the gates of Heaven and Hell are found. Itis the home of the Sons of the Gods and theDaughters of the Sun.
Koknesis [Kwock-ness-is]: A mighty youth who lived near the RiverPerse; Bearslayer's close friend.
kokle [kwock-le]: Traditional Latvian musical instrument -something like a zither.
Kegums [Chag-ums]: A town on the Daugava about 50 Km. SE ofRiga.
Laima [Lye-mu]: The Goddess of Destiny/of Happiness.
Laimdota [Lime-dwo-tu]: The beautiful, virtuous, learned andwise daughter of Burtnieks.
Lake Peipus [Pay-puss]: A large lake along the border between Estoniaand Russia
Latvian Lords: Latvian chieftains or clan (family) heads wholived in stockades (castles) behind woodenpalisades on higher ground along thetributaries of the major rivers.
Lielvarde [Lee-ell-var-de]: A Latvian stronghold on the northern bankof the Daugava, about 55 Km. SE of Riga;home of Bearslayer and his foster father,Lielvardis.
Lielvardis [Lee-ell-var-diss]: The Latvian Lord of Lielvarde; foster fatherof Bearslayer.
Liga [Lee-gu]: The Goddess of Song.
Ligo [Lee-gwu]: Sing! (midsummer songs).
Ligusoni Priests [Lee-gu-swon-yee]: People selected to lead the (pagan)midsummer rites at the Azure Mountain.
Livian lands: The lands of the Livs: In Western Latvia, andthus the first area occupied by the Germans.
Livs: A Finnic (i.e., non-Latvian) people who livedalong the shores of the Gulf of Riga and theDaugava estuary.
Lucifer: The Devil.
Midsummer's Eve: A traditional, extremely important,still-celebrated Latvian folk festival-Jani.
Nine-Headed Demon: A son of the Old Witch. He lived on the En-chanted Isle and was killed by Bearslayer.
North Wind's Daughter: The daughter of Ziemelis, the North Wind.
Northern Sea: The bitterly cold, stormy sea at the top of the world. The domain of Ziemelis.
Pakols [Pu-kwolls]: The God of Death.
Patrimps [Pu-trimps}: The God of Fertility and Wealth.
Perkons [Pah-kwons]: The God of Thunder; a strong supporter of the Latvian people.
Perse [Pair-se]: A river (and waterfall) that flows intothe Daugava near Aizkraukle, about 100 Km. SEof Riga.
Pukaitis [Push-kye-tiss]: A pseudomythological figure invented bywriters in the nineteenth century; oftendepicted as the God of Trees.
Riga's Bishop: Bishop Albert
Romove [Roo-oh-mwo-vu]: A town located near the site of modern-dayVilnius in Lithuania; sacred to all three Balticpeoples (Latvians, Lithuanians, Prussians).
Rusin [Roo-sinsh]: A Latvian warrior treacherously killed by acrossbow bolt at the start of the battle forDabrels's stockade.
Sacred copse: A sacred grove of trees on the Azure Mountain.
Salaspils [Su-luss-pills]: A town on the Daugava where the Germans had already built a castle prior to the arrival of Albert.
Saulite [Sow-lee-tu]: The Sun-Goddess, wife of the Moon. At Midsummer she wore a headdress of red blossoms and danced on the hilltops in silver shoes. To honour her, at Midsummer human women wore similar braided wreaths in their hair, and walked through the fields singing songs to her- see "Ligo".
Sereniete [(Se-re-nee-e-te]: A witch, who assisted Spidala to throw Bear-slayer down into the whirlpool of Staburags.
Six-Headed Demon: A son of the Old Witch. He lived on theEnchanted Isle and was killed by Bearslayer.
Spidala [Spee-du-lu]: The beautiful daughter of Aizkrauklis. She was a witch who had entered into a pact with the Devil, but escaped with Bearslayer's help.
Staburadze [Stu-boo-rud-zu]: A goddess who lives in a Crystal Palace beneath the whirlpool of Staburags.
Staburadze's glass: A mirror given to Bearslayer by the GoddessStaburadze. Evildoers who look into it seethe face of Perkons, and are frozen with terror.
Staburadze's maidens: Beautiful and especially virtuous young women,who live for a time with Staburadze to beeducated.
Staburags [Stu-boo-rugs]: A high cliff above the River Daugava with awhirlpool at its foot.
Strangers The German knights sent to christianizeLatvia , especially those sent by Innocent IIIunder the leadership of Albert.
Talvaldis [Tarl-vull-diss]: A Latvian leader; second-in-command toBearslayer (although hardly mentionedin the poem).
Three-Headed Demon: A son of the Old Witch. He lived on theEnchanted Isle and was killed by Bearslayer.
Tikla [Tick-lu]: The Goddess of Virtue.
Turaida [Too-rye-du]: A Latvian stronghold on the River Gauja NE of Riga, where Kaupa was the Latvian Lord; across the river from Dabrels's stockade.
Uzin [Oo-zinysh]: The God ("patron saint") of Bees (and Horses).
Vaidelots [Vye-de-lwots]: The Messenger of the Gods, who brings newsfrom them (from Romove) to mortals.
Viduveds [Vid-oo-vads]: A man of legendary wisdom, who lived in thesixth century; also known in Prussian legends.
Witch (Old Witch): A crone who had authority over the younger witches in the Devil's Pit. She was the mother of the Three-, Six- and Nine-Headed Demons on the Enchanted Isle.
Ziemelis [Zee-em-ell-is]: The North Wind; hostile to human beings.
Zunda [Zuhn-da]: Narrow straits between the Estonian island of Saaremaa and the Kurzeme Peninsula (i.e., on the Estonia-Latvia border).