The Project Gutenberg eBook ofBearslayerThis ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.*** This is a COPYRIGHTED Project Gutenberg eBook. Details Below. ****** Please follow the copyright guidelines in this file. ***Title: BearslayerAuthor: Andrejs PumpursTranslator: A. J. CropleyRelease date: January 2, 2006 [eBook #17445]Language: English*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEARSLAYER ***
This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online atwww.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.
*** This is a COPYRIGHTED Project Gutenberg eBook. Details Below. ****** Please follow the copyright guidelines in this file. ***
*** This is a COPYRIGHTED Project Gutenberg eBook. Details Below. ***
*** Please follow the copyright guidelines in this file. ***
Title: BearslayerAuthor: Andrejs PumpursTranslator: A. J. CropleyRelease date: January 2, 2006 [eBook #17445]Language: English
Title: Bearslayer
Author: Andrejs PumpursTranslator: A. J. Cropley
Author: Andrejs Pumpurs
Translator: A. J. Cropley
Release date: January 2, 2006 [eBook #17445]
Language: English
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEARSLAYER ***
Copyright (C) 2005 by Arthur Cropley.
by
Andrejs Pumpurs (1841-1902)
A free translation from the unrhymed Latvian into English heroic verse
by
Arthur CropleyUniversity of Hamburg
Copyright (C) 2005 by Arthur Cropley
Foreword
Technical Notes
Summary
Canto 1: The Revelation of the Bearslayer
Canto II: Bearslayer Begins His Life as a Hero
Canto III: Bearslayer and Laimdota Are Betrayed
Canto IV: The Latvians Suffer Many Hardships
Canto V: The Journey to the Homeland
Canto VI: The Struggle against the Invaders
Glossary of Personal and Place Names
Most societies seem to have epic heroes and events that define them as they like to see themselves: Even a young society such as Australia has Ned Kelly, Eureka Stockade, and ANZAC. Others have their Robin Hood, Siegfried, Roland, or Davy Crockett. Lacplesis (Bearslayer) is such a work. Bearslayer is patriotic, brave, strong, tough, loyal, wise, fair, and virtuous, and he loves nature. He embodies the strengths and virtues of the Latvian folk in a legendary age of greatness, before they were subjugated and corrupted by "Strangers".
The poem was important in the growth of Latvian self-awareness As Jazeps Rudzitis, the eminent Latvian folklorist and literary scholar, put it, "There is no other work in Latvian literature whose story has penetrated mass consciousness as deeply or resounded as richly in literature and art as Bearslayer." Thus, it seemed worthwhile to me to make the poem available to people who wish to read it in English, and this volume is the result. It contains the fruits of two years' labour.
In writing Lacplesis Andrejs Pumpurs made an enormous contribution to Latvian literature. Thus, it may seem presumptuous that I have given myself equal prominence with him on the title page. After all, he is the author of the original poem, of which the present text is merely a translation. However, the task of translating a poem is much more than that of taking the words of the source language and replacing them with equivalent words from the target language. In Latvian, in addition to tulkot (to translate), there is a second verb atdzejot, which means approximately "re-versify". As I explain in the Technical Notes (p. iii), I have transformed Pumpurs's original Latvian work into an English poem in heroic verse: The result is an atdzejojums, not "merely" a translation.
The moral support I received from a number of people during the two years I worked on the translation was particularly important to me. I am especially indebted to Edgars Kariks of the Baltic Office of the Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies, who gave constant encouragement and concrete support, and Ojars Kalnin of the Latvian Institute in Riga, who was extremely positive and supportive from an early stage in the project. These two gave me the courage to keep going. Among others, Rita Berzin read an early fragment and encouraged me to believe I was on the right track, and Jana Felder (née Martinson) responded enthusiastically to a presentation at a conference. Valters Nollendorfs encouraged me to trust my own feeling of what sounded right, and Guntis Smidchens showed interest in the translation from the point of view of a university teacher.
I am greatly indebted to my Latvian teacher in Adelaide, Ilze Ostrovska. Without her I would never have learned enough Latvian to read the original poem. Mirdza Kate Baltais edited the first version of the manuscript and helped me eliminate a very large number of errors, as well as making numerous suggestions for improvements. It is definitely not her fault that there are still errors in the text-quite apart from certain liberties that I have allowed myself (see p.iii). My colleague in Riga, Kaspars Klavin, read the entire manuscript and made a number of sensitive and insightful suggestions for corrections and improvements, for which I am grateful.
My son, Andrew Cropley, discussed the project with me many times, and suggested the addition of a Glossary (see p.164). He also built the Bearslayer website, with which some readers will be familiar (http//:web.aanet.com.au/Bearslayer). My wife, Alison, was patient and encouraging throughout, as well as providing artwork for the cover.
Adelaide, January 2006 Arthur Cropley
This is a free translation into English heroic verse of Lacplesis (Bearslayer) by Andrejs Pumpurs, first published in Latvian in 1888. The translation here is a corrected version of the original, which was published in 2005. Lacplesis has been translated into Estonian, Lithuanian, Polish and at least three times into Russian, as well as into Japanese! An English translation was published by Rita Berzin in 1988. This used poetic language, but the text was unrhymed and its metre irregular. It is also very difficult to obtain. Various prose translations of fragments also exist. The present translation is in rhyme and has a strict metre. As far as I know, it is the only existing translation of the entire poem into English verse.
In the interests of telling a good story in an easily understandable way I have omitted or shifted to a slightly different location an occasional line in Pumpurs's text, perhaps a dozen lines in the entire poem. I have also occasionally inserted lines that were not in the original text, again perhaps a dozen in the entire poem. My translation is also very loose in some places-an important priority for me was a poem that flowed well-and I have allowed myself some liberties. I apologize to those who are offended. I have, however, followed the sequence of events exactly as Pumpurs told them, and have retained virtually all Pumpurs's metaphors and similar poetic devices, such as the moon's rays being described as bars of silver, or mist as dripping like blood. I have tried to recapture in the English the moods suggested to me by the original Latvian: rustic joy, horror, tenderness, or despair.
The translation is also free because I wanted to maintain a strict metre as well as to achieve the effect of an English epic poem. The latter goal involved using archaic-sounding words as much as possible, although I preferred words that would be familiar to educated native-speakers of contemporary English, rather than genuinely archaic words. I also employed devices such as inversion of the word order (e.g., "a hero bold") or using adjectives in the place of adverbs (e.g., "the sun set slow"). However, I avoided forms that no longer exist, such as "thou," "thy," or "doth" and the like: I believe that these now sound too artificial to modern readers' ears.
Despite the liberties just described, the organization of the work follows Pumpurs's original division into six cantos of widely differing lengths. However, as aids to following the story I have given the cantos titles, divided them into "scenes", each scene beginning on a new page, and inserted intermediate headings. The scenes and headings are entirely my own invention and, to make it clear that they do not come from Pumpurs, I have put my headings into italics.
Pumpurs used various stanza structures, ranging from four lines to passages of 250 or more lines without interruption. Where Pumpurs used four-, six- or eight-line stanzas, I have done the same. Later, where Pumpurs used very long stanzas, I have returned to an eight-line or four-line format, largely depending on the number of syllables in a line. I have also sometimes inserted four-line stanzas into sections otherwise consisting of eight-line stanzas, in order to mark a turning point in the action.
Pumpurs also used differing metrical forms, the number of syllables in a line ranging from six to eighteen. In my translation I have used the iambus as the basic metrical unit throughout the entire poem. The most common metrical form in my translation is iambic pentameter. However, where Pumpurs used eight-syllable lines I have done the same. In such cases I have also often switched to four-line stanzas, in order to increase the "staccato" effect of the shorter lines. The original Latvian is largely unrhymed. I have translated into rhyming verse, mainly using the rhyme scheme a, b, a, b, c, d, c, d. In the six-line stanzas the rhyme scheme is a, b, a, b, a, b; in the four-line stanzas a, b, a, b.
With few exceptions, most noticeably Bearslayer's name (Latvian: Lacplesis) and those of the Black Knight (Latvian: Tumais bruninieks) and the Father of Destiny (Latvian: Liktena tevs), I have not translated personal and place names, such as "Perkons" or "Kegums", but have maintained the Latvian spelling. Thus, Laimdota remains Laimdota, not "Laima's Gift", and Koknesis is not translated into "Tree Bearer" or "Wood Carrier". This is because the original Latvian names have a heroic ring about them, whereas English translations run the risk of sounding ridiculous. Since the Latvian gods and spirits will be unfamiliar to most English speakers I have often inserted into the poem explanations of who they are (e.g., "The God of Thunder, Perkons").
The poem, as I have translated it, is meant to be read aloud, although this is not essential. Because of the strict iambic metre of the translation, every second syllable must be stressed. In most places I have found English words for which this is compatible with everyday pronunciation, at least in the Australian dialect that I speak. However, it raises some problems for the pronunciation of Latvian geographical and personal names. In this poem, all such words start with a stressed syllable, as is usual in spoken Latvian. However, stressing every second syllable may offend against some readers' understanding of correct Latvian usage, I ask for forgiveness in advance. The work is, however, a poem in the English language, and the pronunciation suggested here and in the Glossary is essential for preserving the iambic metre of the English poetry.
The notes on pronunciation that follow are solely for the purposes of reading this poem, and are not meant as a general guide to pronunciation of the Latvian language. The syllable represented phonetically as "-a" should be pronounced as in "bad",and "-ah" as a very 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.
(a) All untranslated proper nouns, such as personal or place names, start with a stressed syllable (e.g., Liga = Lee-gu). Where a name has more than two syllables, the first and third are stressed in order to maintain the iambic metre (e.g., Spidala = Spee-du-lu).
(b) The letter "o" is a diphthong ("oo-oh" or "oh-u"). However, as a rule I have adopted a shortened diphthong, to avoid giving the single letter "o" two syllables. Thus, it is usually pronounced "wo". For example, the name of the Messenger of the Gods, "Vaidelots", is pronounced "Vy-du-lwots", "Perkons" is pronounced "Pah-kwons", and so on. Despite what has just been said, Laimdota is pronounced "Laim-dwo-tu", and "Koknesis" is pronounced "Kwok-ness-is", whereas Spidala is always pronounced "Spee-du-lu".
(c) The letter combination "ie" is also a diphthong, and is pronounced "ee e". Thus, the letters "liel" (as in "Lielvarde") are pronounced "Lee-ell".
(d) A final "e" is pronounced. Thus, for instance, "Lielvarde" is pronounced "Lee-ell-var-de".
(e) Although it does not involve pronouncing Latvian words, "Latvia" is prononced "Lat'vya", "Latvian(s)" "Lat'vyan(s)", and "Destiny" Dest'ny". Many three-syllable words are pronounced similarly: e.g., "Daug'va" "trav'ler", etc.
To assist readers who are not familiar with Latvian geography and mythology, I have prepared a brief glossary of names and places (see p. 164). This includes guidance on how to pronounce the names for the purposes of the present work.
It is the turn of the 13th century, 800 years ago in Latvia. The Baltic gods have gathered to consult the Father of Destiny about their own fate and that of the Latvian people. Both are under threat from invading German knights, who have been sent by the Pope to christianize the Baltic region, under the command of Bishop Albert. Perkons, the God of Thunder, calls on all the gods to guard and nurture the Latvians, and they promise to do so, each in his or her own way.
As the council is breaking up the Goddess Staburadze reveals that she has rescued a young man from the River Daugava, where he was cast down by two witches. She has taken him to her Crystal Palace beneath the river in the whirlpool of Staburags, from which no human can emerge alive. Perkons reveals that this youth is Bearslayer, who will become a noble warrior under the protection of Perkons, and will strive mightily against the forces of evil.
At the beginning of Canto II the action goes back in time to the Castle of Lielvarde, shortly before the Council of the Gods described in the previous canto. The son of the Lord of Lielvarde reveals mighty strength, killing a bear with his bare hands. This first heroic deed wins him the name "Bearslayer." (This young man is the hero that Perkons revealed to the other gods in Canto I.) The youth is not the true son of the Lord of Lielvarde, but a foundling suckled by a female bear in the forest. (Although it is not directly explained until almost the end of the poem, it is important to know that Bearslayer has bear's ears, and that if these are cut off he will lose his bearlike strength.) Bearslayer was brought to Lielvarde as a baby by Vaidelots, a Messenger of the Gods, to be raised until he reached manhood. After killing the bear he is sent to study for seven years in the Castle of Burtnieks, in order to learn the ancient wisdom of the Latvian race. Accompanied by the good advice of his foster father, he sets off.
On the way to Burtnieks's Castle, Bearslayer visits the castle of the Latvian Lord Aizkrauklis, where he is stunned by the beauty of Aizkrauklis's daughter, Spidala. However, he watches her and discovers that she is a witch. He follows her by hiding in a hollow log on which she flies to the Devil's Pit, and witnesses evil rites, as well as seeing the false holy man, Kangars, promise to serve the Devil by working against the ancient gods and supporting Christianity, because Christians are easier prey for the Devil. On the journey back to Aizkraukle Bearslayer is cast down into the whirlpool of Staburags in the River Daugava by Spidala and another witch. From here he is rescued by Staburadze, as we already know from Canto I, and taken to her Crystal Palace beneath the whirlpool.
With the help of the beautiful and virtuous maiden, Laimdota, Staburadze nurses Bearslayer back to health. She reveals to him that he has been chosen by the gods to fight against evil, especially Spidala and Kangars, who are plotting in secret. Staburadze gives him a talisman, a magic mirror, and Laimdota gives him a ribbon decorated with an oak-leaf pattern. He leaves the Crystal Palace and is duly turned to stone, as are all mortals, but is restored to life by Perkons. He performs a second heroic deed, saving a boat that is sinking in the raging River Perse by rowing with his bare hands, and is befriended by a powerful youth, Koknesis. Together they ride to Burtnieks, accompanied by the curses of Spidala.
Canto III opens with Spidala hurrying to the hut of Kangars to warn him that Bearslayer was present in the Devil's Pit and saw the shameful deeds. To prevent Bearslayer revealing that he and Spidala are in league with the Devil, Kangars decides to lure the young hero into a trap by provoking a war against the Estonian Giant, Kalapuisis, certain that Bearslayer will rush into battle against the invincible foeman and be killed. As Kangars explains this plot to Spidala a terrible storm arises, and Spidala is unable to return home.
The storm was sent by Perkons to destroy a ship just arriving at the mouth of the River Daugava from Germany, in order to kill the German missionaries it is carrying. Led by the priest, Dietrich, they have come with the intention of forcing the Baltic people to accept Christianity. However, the Livian fisher-folk of the Daugava estuary rescue the passengers from the ship. Thus, they thwart the will of Perkons, who had planned to drown the newcomers, and save the very people who will eventually become their conquerors. The morning after the storm, a fisherman brings Dietrich to Kangars, and an alliance is forged, since both want to introduce Christianity, although for differing reasons.
Years pass. Bearslayer and Koknesis study hard in the Castle of Burtnieks. Bearslayer has a special reason to seek perfection: Laimdota is the daughter of Burtnieks and has returned home to the castle from Staburadze's Crystal Palace, where she and Bearslayer met. They fall in love, but just as Bearslayer is about to ask for her hand news arrives that Kalapuisis has entered Latvia and is killing and laying waste. Burtnieks offers Laimdota's hand to any warrior who can rid them of Kalapuisis, and Bearslayer rides out to face him: The plot seems to be succeeding!
Bearslayer faces Kalapuisis in single combat, and defeats him. However, just as Bearslayer is about to kill him, Kalapuisis reveals a prophecy told him by his mother that a bear cub from the Daugava, who is of noble rank and equal to Kalapuisis as a warrior, will come and save the Latvians from their conquerors. The two warriors realize that Bearslayer is this bear cub, and that they have a common enemy-the Germans-and make peace, so that they can work together against the invaders.
Successful in the Estonian war, Bearslayer returns to Burtnieks's Castle with the other Latvian warriors, and they are greeted in song by the local maidens. Laimdota places an oak-leaf wreath on Bearslayer's head and sings of his might, promising to make him a true and virtuous wife. Bearslayer replies in song that he will live and die for Laimdota. Amid great joy and feelings of brotherhood the warriors toast Bearslayer, and conclude that the gods personally intervened on his behalf. This divine intervention gives Bearslayer legendary status so that, instead of destroying him, the plot added to his fame.
Once again, time passes while Bearslayer studies at the Castle of Burtnieks. One night he notices in the fortress's undercroft a trapdoor, left half-open to reveal a stone staircase leading below. He goes down and follows a tunnel until he enters a large chamber that he judges to be beneath the centre of the lake. He is in the Sunken Castle that Laimdota had told him about. He discovers Laimdota reading an ancient book. She explains to him that if a mortal remains in the Sunken Castle overnight and survives until morning, the castle will rise once more into the light of day. Bearslayer resolves to carry out this heroic task and Laimdota leaves him.
Midnight passes and the Sunken Castle grows cold. Bearslayer lights a fire from broken wood lying around. Suddenly seven evil spirits enter the room carrying an open coffin, in which an old man with huge sharp teeth and long nails is lying. He begins to groan horribly and complain that he is cold. Bearslayer cannot bear the sound and hauls the man from the coffin to the fire, but the old man tries to bite off Bearslayer's ears, knowing that without them Bearslayer is weak. Bearslayer fights back and holds the old man in the fire, saying that he will only let him go if the Sunken Castle is raised to the surface.
At this, a whirlwind springs up and the seven evil spirits return, led by Spidala. They attack Bearslayer and he is about to be defeated when he remembers the mirror that Staburadze gave him. He pulls it out and holds it in Spidala's face. A howling fills the air and all the evil spirits turn to dust and are whirled round the room in the whirlwind. The spirit of Viduveds, a wise man of ancient times, appears in human form and greets Bearslayer, saying that the young hero will save the Latvian people. Viduveds's handmaidens make a bed for Bearslayer, and he falls into a deep sleep.
Next morning the people are amazed to see a castle standing on an island in the middle of the lake. Laimdota tells Burtnieks that Bearslayer has spent the night in the castle, and the old man realizes at once that Bearslayer has broken the magic spell and saved the Sunken Castle. Laimdota and Burtnieks enter the castle and wake Bearslayer. He claims Laimdota as his bride, and Burtnieks gives his blessing, saying that the union of the two clans (Burtnieks and Lielvarde) will save the Latvians.
One evening, later, Laimdota reads to Bearslayer from the ancient books found in the Sunken Castle. She reads how the ancient Latvians were led to the Baltic Sea from a land far to the east by Perkons. With the favour of the gods, they settled in a valley, built a castle, and established a golden age on Earth.
However, this made the Devil jealous, and he commanded a whirlwind to suck up a lake and deposit it in the valley. This was done and the valley, including the castle, was drowned. The people would have died too, but Liga, the Goddess of Song, saved them by using the music of her kokle to open up under the lake a tunnel that led them to safety. The castle is the one Bearslayer raised, and the tunnel the one he used to enter the castle.
On another occasion, Laimdota reads to Bearslayer the story of the creation. In eternal space there was once nothing except a celestial light. In it lived God and a second mighty spirit-the Devil. At that time the Devil still obeyed God, although he was already growing rebellious. God decided to create the Earth and sent the Devil to fetch a handful of slime. The Devil was curious and kept a second handful for himself, hiding it in his mouth. When he brought the slime to God, God commanded the slime to form the Earth, throwing it down. The slime began to grow, and formed the level plains of the Earth. However, the slime in the Devil's mouth also obeyed God and grew until the Devil could no longer hold it in his mouth. He spat it out and it fell to the newly created Earth, forming the mountains.
From His own substance God created the Sun and Moon. He was so pleased with the Earth and Sun He had just created that He also created the first living creatures: the Sons of the Gods and the Daughters of the Sun. The Moon took a gigantic Daughter of the Sun as his wife, and the stars are their thousands of children. The Sons of the Gods divided up the Earth among themselves.
The Devil grew more rebellious and began to defy God. A great rivalry grew up between them, and the Devil tried in vain to outdo God, who, however, always had the upper hand. Eventually, God created humans and made them capable only of good, but the Devil interfered and gave them the power to be evil as well as good. God grew furiously angry at seeing His creation ruined, and banished the Devil to Hell. There the Devil created evil demons and with them rose up from Hell and fought against God and all good spirits. Eventually, the Devil was defeated and driven back to Hell, after Perkons intervened in the fight
Later Laimdota reads from the teachings of the guardian of the Latvian race, in which he listed the tasks of worthy human beings: to seek perfection of the human race, to fight against evil by obeying the ancient teachings, to make just laws and drive out bad rulers, and to love nature.
All Souls' Eve comes. The people of Burtnieks's Castle celebrate this in the traditional Latvian way. Next morning, however, Laimdota and Koknesis have vanished, and Bearslayer sets off to find them, vowing never to return unless he is successful. Meanwhile, a German ship has arrived at the mouth of the Daugava, and Dietrich and Kangars persuade the the local Latvian Lord, Kaupa, to return in it to Rome with Dietrich. Kangars stays behind, but knows that the Germans' friendship is only a trick to gain control of Latvia.
The ship sails. Just then Bearslayer rides up. He knows full well that Kangars and Spidala have kidnapped Laimdota, and demands that they give her back. Spidala tells him that she is on the ship just vanishing over the horizon. Kangars says that she and Koknesis are lovers. Bearslayer does not believe this lie, although he experiences some doubts, and rides off in deep despair. Spidala gloats over his sorrow. She has her revenge, and Bearslayer's life is worse than death.
Bearslayer returns to Lielvarde, his home. He is greeted warmly, but his father sees that something is wrong. Bearslayer tells him all, and his father consoles him with wise words of hope: Perhaps Laimdota loves him still and will yet be saved. Bearslayer spends his days roaming the cliffs above the Daugava brooding, and longing to go with the waters down to the sea to fight against the North Wind and meet the North Wind's Daughter. One day he vanishes, and no-one knows where he has gone.
Canto IV opens with Kaupa in Rome. He is seduced by the wealth and power he sees, doubts the old gods, and decides to embrace Christianity and convert the Latvians. Back in Latvia, the people labour long building a walled city for the Germans, who are now present in large numbers-Riga. Once they have their fortress the Germans begin to plunder everything they can get their hands on, to pillage and to destroy. Full of bitterness, the Latvians realize that they have been tricked.
Meanwhile, in Germany Laimdota is being held captive in a convent. Spidala had tricked her into leaving her father's castle back in Latvia by pretending to be her mother. Laimdota was then seized by Spidala's minions, brought to Riga, and placed on the ship to Germany as a prisoner. During the journey Dietrich tries to calm her and tells her that she will soon be the Bride of Christ. Laimdota replies that she loves Bearslayer, will not be forced to become anyone else's bride and is, in any case, a mortal and not fit to become the bride of Christ. Although hardened and without pangs of conscience, Dietrich blushes at her virtuous answer, and leaves her. Kaupa refuses to help her on the grounds that it is the will of Destiny that she go to Germany. Soon both Dietrich and Kaupa forget about her.
The convent prioress tries to persuade Laimdota to accept Christianity and threatens to allow her to be seized by a local count and used as a concubine. To escape this fate Laimdota pretends to accept Christianity but, despite this, one night armed men break into the convent and seize her. As they are about to carry her off an unknown warrior appears and fights all the kidnappers on his own. He kills all except one, and rescues Laimdota. She recognizes him as Koknesis and they flee into the mountains. Along the way Koknesis explains how he too was tricked into going on the ship to Germany. Once in Germany, he heard that a Baltic woman was being held in the convent and decided to rescue her, without knowing that it was Laimdota.
The action turns to the Northern Sea, where Bearslayer is wandering in a ship, lost on the way to Germany to seek Laimdota. The North Wind's Daughter hears the sailors calling upon her in song, and she comes to them in her own ship. She says that it would be best if they came to her island to rest, before continuing their journey, and Bearslayer agrees. They avoid the Castle of the North Wind, where he is sleeping, perhaps for another month. Once he is awake, the winter will set in and they will not be able to escape because of the ice and storms.
The island is warmed by fires from the centre of the Earth, and the sailors enjoy a pleasant stay. Eventually the North Wind's Daughter tells them that her father is about to wake up and that they must leave. She warns them not to return by the route that they came by, because Bearslayer's enemies now know that he is using that route and may be too strong for him. She describes an alternative route, but warns of its great dangers, including the land of the dog-snout ogres, the Kingdom of Dreams, the Hill of Diamonds, and the Enchanted Isle. The sailors set off in the nick of time: The North Wind has woken up and they are involved in a fearsome storm, from which they barely escape.
They reach the island of the Dog-Snout Ogres, where they tie up. Bearslayer goes ashore with a party of men to cut up and share the meat of some deer he has already killed. They are at work when suddenly the Dog-Snouts pour out of a cave and attack them. They tear the men apart with their teeth and even Bearslayer is scarcely able to save himself. He is wounded and seems doomed, until he notices that no more Dog-Snouts are coming out of their cave. He slips in to the cave and is able to defend himself with his spear in its narrow opening. The Dog-Snouts then bring up large boulders and block the entrance, trapping Bearslayer inside.
Back at the ship the sailors wait in vain for their comrades. Their orders forbid them to go ashore and search for them. At the last moment Bearslayer appears and tells them to disembark at once. They do so, and escape the Land of the Dog-Snouts. At sea Bearslayer explains what happened. He got out of the cave by digging a hole at the rear with his spear. This took several days, but he found some raw meat in the cave, and lived on that. The Dog-Snouts were busy watching the front of the cave, and thus did not see Bearslayer as he escaped at the rear.
They sail away, and reach the Kingdom of Dreams. This is where Heaven and Earth come together, the gates of Paradise standing alongside the entrance to Hell. This land is the location of the Gardens of the Sun, where the Sun returns at dusk and rests at night before setting off each morning. Under the protection of the Sons of the Gods and the Daughters of the Sun they stay in the pleasant Kingdom of Dreams for some time, but eventually set off again.
They travel in pitch darkness at first, but later see a tiny glint of light, towards which they sail. They come closer and sight the Hill of Diamonds, its peak glowing brilliantly. The ship docks and the sailors rush on shore. Despite Bearslayer's warning, a sailor climbs to the peak and vanishes. A second does the same. A third ties himself to a rope and is pulled back by his comrades as he is vanishing. He is saved, but never speaks again.
They sail away and encounter fair winds and weather. Fog obscures the course and they suddenly emerge close to a beautiful island. Bearslayer realizes that this is the Enchanted Isle the North Wind's Daughter warned against, from which no ship can escape. They try to sail away but are drawn to the island until the ship runs up on its shore.
Canto V continues on the Enchanted Isle. There is no sign of life, except for a track leading from the forest to a bridge and, at the seaward end of the bridge, a beautiful palace. Inside is a sumptuous meal, and in a second room soft beds for all. The sailors fall upon the food and then all go to bed. Bearslayer arms himself and stands guard at the end of the bridge.
At midnight a rider comes out of the forest. It is the Three-Headed Demon. He speaks aloud, revealing that he hates Bearslayer, but believes that his enemy is far away, trapped on the Northern Sea. At this Bearslayer roars that he is there. The demon challenges Bearslayer to fight and show his strength. They ride into the thick forest where the demon blows down the trees, so that they will have a clearing in which to fight: One breath clears an area three miles across! They fight and the demon's blows drive Bearslayer into the ground up to his knees. None the less, Bearslayer prevails. He then returns to the palace at the bridge and lies down to sleep. Nothing further disturbs their rest that night.
The next night Bearslayer again stands guard. Again, at midnight a rider comes out of the forest. This time it is the Six-Headed Demon, who also hates Bearslayer and believes that he is lost on the Northern Sea. Again Bearslayer challenges the demon, who clears the forest by blowing down trees, this time six miles around. They fight and Bearslayer is driven into the ground to his hips, but still wins with some difficulty.
The third night, before going on guard, Bearslayer tells the others that he may need their help. He places Staburadze's mirror on a table alongside a bowl of water, and tells them that if, during the night, the water turns to blood, they must bring the mirror to his aid. At midnight the Nine-Headed Demon appears at the bridge. Bearslayer and the demon fight in a clearing nine miles across, and Bearslayer is driven into the ground to his armpits. He looks in vain for help from his shipmates, and is about to be defeated. Desperate, he throws his club three miles through the window of the palace where the others are sleeping. This wakes them, they see that the water has turned to blood, and they hasten to bring Bearslayer the mirror. In the nick of time he shows the demon the mirror, and it falls down frozen. Bearslayer climbs out of the ground and kills it.
To be sure that the island is safe they search it, and discover a beautiful valley in which is a well of clear water, alongside it a leafy apple tree with magnificent fruit. The men want to drink, but first Bearslayer thrusts his sword into the water, marking a triangle. There are screams and the water turns to blood, but soon clears and they drink in safety. After this, the men want to eat apples, but Bearslayer grows angry, saying that they are not there to pick fruit. He threatens to cut down the tree with his sword, but suddenly a voice from the tree begs for mercy. Bearslayer steps back in surprise and the tree turns into a beautiful young woman. To Bearslayer's horror, it is Spidala.
Spidala throws herself at his feet and begs for mercy. She swears to make good all her wicked deeds, and never to do evil again. Bearslayer grants her her life - he fights demons and giants, not women! Spidala tells him that Laimdota and Koknesis are loyal and pure, and reveals how she and Kangars tricked them into going to Germany. She also reveals how the Old Witch cast a spell on the island to draw in ships. Once trapped on the island's shore the ships' crews sink into a deep sleep. This is the spell that drew Bearslayer's ship to the island, where the witch intended to trap him. The three demons were her sons. On hearing of their death the Old Witch set a trap by changing herself into the well and Spidala into the apple tree. However, when Bearslayer plunged his sword into the well he killed the witch, and thus broke the spell on Spidala.
Spidala reminds Bearslayer that it is his duty to return to Latvia and drive out the marauding Germans. She yearns to help, but is trapped in a pact with the Devil. Bearslayer realizes that she is truly repentant and wants to help her. Suddenly he remembers the little package that he brought with him as a souvenir of the Devil's Pit, and orders some sailors to fetch it and give it to her. When Spidala sees it she is overjoyed: It is her contract with the Devil, and she is now free! They go to the beach, where Spidala releases the ships and sailors trapped on the shore. Suddenly, among the people released, Bearslayer sees Koknesis and Laimdota!
Koknesis and Laimdota tell the story of their escape from Germany. They too were drawn on shore on the Enchanted Isle by the Old Witch, and put into a long sleep. Spidala hangs back, but Bearslayer tells the others that it was she who broke the spell on them: They thank her, and the four swear eternal friendship. Spidala shows them around the island, which she knows well, and some of the awakened people decide to live there for good. Eventually, however Bearslayer, Koknesis, Laimdota and Spidala decide to leave.
The evening before they depart, Koknesis wanders back to the well in the valley. He sees Spidala burn her pact with the Devil. She asks him to keep this a secret. He agrees, but in turn tells her his secret: He loves her and wants her to marry him. She eventually agrees. The four set off back to Latvia on Bearslayer's ship, and on the way Koknesis and Spidala tell Bearslayer and Laimdota about their love. These two are overjoyed. After a long journey they sight Latvian shores, and eventually sail into the mouth of the Daugava.
Canto VI opens with Midsummer's Eve in Latvia. The people are called together by the Midsummer Priests. They bring offerings for the gods and gifts for each other, and gather around fires on the Azure Mountain. They pray for blessings for the coming year, and pay respect to the spirits of their ancestors. The oldest priest calls on them to live together in harmony, and many grudges are settled with a handshake. The young men and women begin to dance together.
While the young people celebrate, the Clan Chieftains meet in council on the Azure Mountain. They are concerned because the prophetic writings kept in the Sacred Grove on the mountainside predict calamity. Lielvardis arrives and reveals that the German knights have captured a number of Latvian stockades and built their own stone castles, and are imposing Christianity at the point of the sword. His own fortress, Lielvarde, has been seized. Bishop Albert is bringing more knights from Germany to take over all Latvia. At this moment Bearslayer appears, together with Koknesis, Laimdota and Spidala. Bearslayer is elected leader of the Latvian warriors. All pledge themselves to fight to free their land, and return to their homes to prepare for war.
Bearslayer and Laimdota, as well as Koknesis and Spidala, are married at the Castle of Burtnieks, Laimdota's home. There is a great wedding celebration, but this is cut short by Burtnieks, who tells them that they will soon be at war. The new couples have little time for wedded bliss before the men have to set off to fight the German invaders, and Laimdota and Spidala, refusing to be separated so soon from their new hus- bands, set off with them. The Latvian host gathers and marches on Turaida. On the way, they eliminate German infestation whenever they encounter it.
Alarmed by the Latvian uprising, many Germans have fled to Turaida and taken refuge in the stone castle built there by the Germans. The Latvians lay siege to the castle, and eventually are able to scale the walls at night and fight on the ramparts. A fearful battle ensues, with heavy losses on both sides. Bearslayer kills many Germans and, realizing that he is too strong for them, the Germans surrender. Among those captured is Dietrich, who is handed over to the locals for punishment. However, he tricks them into setting him free. They now march on Lielvarde, Bearslayer's home, where the German knight, Daniel, has built a stone castle. Just before they arrive, Daniel invites the chieftains of some Latvian clans that had fled into the forest to a parley. However, once he has them in a great pavilion he locks them in and sets fire to it. The elders cry for help as Daniel and his men watch in glee from the castle walls.
In the nick of time Bearslayer arrives with his army. He rescues the chieftains and attacks the German castle. The Germans fight hard but are defeated, and all except Daniel are slaughtered. He is handed to the local people for punishment, and they throw him into the Daugava tied to a plank. Bearslayer re-establishes himself at Lielvarde
Meanwhile, Albert has returned to Germany to recruit more knights. He leaves Kaupa in charge in Riga, to where most Germans have now retreated. All seems well for the Latvians, and Bearslayer and Laimdota settle down to married life together. The others too return to their homes, thinking to live out their lives in peace.
Springtime comes, and the Latvians have little thought of war. Even Kangars is working in his garden. His life is bitter: He receives no honour from any one, any more. He knows that death will bring him the torments of Hell, while his remaining days of life are wracked with the knowledge of his own wickedness. One day Dietrich comes to him and asks him to communicate with evil spirits to discover the source of Bearslayer's strength. Kangars says that it is no concern of his that Bearslayer is killing Germans, but that he has his own reasons for wanting to destroy the young man. He wrestles with demons for three days and nights without sleep, and they reveal to him the secret of Bearslayer's strength-his bear's ears.
Among the new knights brought back from Germany by Albert is the Black Knight. He is already experienced in doing wicked deeds in Germany. He claims to be the son of a witch and immune to harm from wounds. One day Kaupa takes a party of knights, including the Black Knight, to Lielvarde, and asks for admission, saying that he wishes to make peace between the Latvians and Albert. Bearslayer wants peace and the Germans are admitted. They are treated well, and Bearslayer organizes a tournament to entertain them.
In the tournament, both Bearslayer and the Black Knight defeat their opponents, and the Black Knight suggests that they fight each other. Bearslayer refuses, although he does not want to insult the Black Knight. The Black Knight then says that it would hardly be a test of his strength to fight Bearslayer, any way, despite all Bearslayer's boasting. Stung by this, Bearslayer seizes his sword and the two fight.
At first Bearslayer thinks that it is mere sport, but the Black Knight fights with great vigour, and suddenly cuts off one of Bearslayer's ears. Enraged, Bearslayer now attacks in earnest, and with a terrible blow of his sword splits open the Black Knight's armour and wounds him. However, his sword breaks. Seeing this, the Black Knight attacks again, and cuts off Bearslayer's other ear.
Terribly angry, Bearslayer seizes the Black Knight and they wrestle together. In their fight they stumble to the very edge of the high cliffs above the River Daugava. Bearslayer's men look on, grown pale with apprehension and rooted to the spot with fear. Three times Bearslayer lifts up the Black Knight, but each time the German kicks free. Finally, Bearslayer throws him over the cliff into the river's depths, but the Black Knight drags Bearslayer with him. Weighed down by the knight's heavy armour, they sink to the bottom. At this moment the waves roar and an island rises up in the river. In the castle, Laimdota, who had had a premonition of disaster, shrieks and ends her own life.
Soon, the Latvian heroes are defeated one by one by the Germans, for whom they are no match without Bearslayer. The Germans establish themselves as harsh masters, and the Latvian people are plunged into centuries of slavery. However, for them Bearslayer is not dead, but sleeps beneath the island in a golden bed.
Even today, sometimes at midnight boatmen on the Daugava see two shadowy figures locked in struggle on the cliffs above the river, while in the ruins of the old castle of Lielvarde a little flame burns. The figures struggling on the cliff top are Bearslayer and the Black Knight, and the flame in the castle is Laimdota. Each time they fight the two warriors plunge together into the river. There is a terrible scream in the castle, and the flame goes out.
However, the day will come when Bearslayer will defeat the Black Knight and cast him down alone into the river to drown. On that day, the Latvians will be free!
The gods gather
In azure vaults of heaven soaring bright,In lofty castles filled with endless joy,The God of Thunder, Perkons, dwells in light,And pleasure knows whose sweetness cannot cloy.The Baltic gods in council gathered there,Of Destiny's Father tidings to debate.His will decides the hues-both dark and fair-And sets the fickle course of mortal fate.
The steeds of Perkons saddled in the court,With trappings glowing waited in the morn;The sun's first rays a dazzling glitter brought,As polished harness glinted in the dawn.And Patrimps, God of Plenty, held in yokesHis beeswax-yellow steeds with flowing manes;Of golden stalks his wingèd chariot's spokes-Its course ensures the timely suns and rains.
Dread Pakols, God of Death, had horses black,Yoked closely to his sledge of human bones;Of ribs the runners, driver's seat and back,Shinbones as shafts, arrayed in sombre tones.While Antrimps, of the Sea, had steeds all scaled,And chariot swift of reeds of ocean green.Of shells whose beauty yet was still unpaledIts supple seat was formed, as could be seen.
And Liga fair, the Goddess of sweet Song,In flower-decked chariot seated high in state,By swiftest horses queen-like drawn along,With Pukaitis passed through the Rainbow Gate.The Gods' proud Sons, all mounted brave and bold,On fiery steeds into the courtyard rode.Their saddles shone, their bridles gleamed with gold,With diamond bits their snorting horses glowed.
Soon Austra, Morning Goddess, came in haste,And Laima too, the greatest Goddess there,While Tikla, Virtue's Goddess stern and chaste,Thence travelled fast, bedecked with roses fair.Last, drawn by prancing stallions swift and strong,Up came the beauteous Daughters of the Sun.Firm holding golden reins they dashed along;A flower-strewn course their chariots thence had run.
And Destiny's Father, grizzled deathless might,Was seated high upon the Diamond Throne,With Perkons there and Patrimps on the right,While Pakols stern and Antrimps stood alone.Close, Pukaitis and Liga both were near,Then of the Gods the Sons, arrayed as one.With Austra, Laima, Tikla standing clear,And last, the beauteous Daughters of the Sun.
Behind, a host of lesser godlings stood,Who to the Council with the rest had come,Because all Baltic spirits fair and goodWith earnest presence added to the sum.
The grim tidings
Then Destiny's Father, grizzled deathless might,Arose up lordly from his sacred throne-In godly throng yet still a noble sight,This warning message spoke in sombre tone:"To life a new eternal light was born!On Earth there walked a wondrous form sublime.A mighty spirit now was come to warn,And bless the Earth in His appointed time."
"Both wise and holy, fitly men He taughtThat mortal folk the gods all honour owe.To seek to live like gods themselves they ought,And virtue pure with seemly goodness show.The evil ones, who deeply feared His strength,Rose up against Him in a demon pack.But Hell itself though fighting fierce at length,Yet could not stop His march nor hold Him back."
"This hero rose from death upon the cross,He lived again and found surpassing fame.His fate well known will live and know no loss;In human parlance 'Christ' now is His name.Now, many peoples living on the EarthAccept His word but see not what portends;For humankind in shame denies His worth,His message twists to serve unworthy ends."
"The Baltic too has reached the fateful hourWhen Strangers bring the faith once taught by Him-But ancient gods possess the boundless powerTo bend the mortal mind to suit their whim."
The pledges of the gods
Now Perkons rose, his strength at last to wield,And spoke: "Immortal and almighty both,Yet still the gods to Destiny's will must yield.But none the less I offer here this oath:In my strong care the Latvian folk I hold,And all good teachings here permit to stand.Though good, Christ's message clearly yet is old,For from the East these teachings reach our land."
"But those who bear His message to our shoresHave come to us to serve a different view.To conquer Baltic regions is their cause,To make our people slaves their purpose new.I will oppose their plan against our folk,And, surely as I split this mighty rockOr shake asunder trees of stoutest oak,This goal the Baltic folk will safely mock."
"With passing time, its passage soon or late,My bolts of lightning on the foe will rain,On all who seek as slaves my people's fateAnd strive to crush our spirits for their gain.-But when the springtime comes with climate fair,To Latvia's folk sweet showers I will send,By day will give them clean refreshing air,And to the darkness sparks of light will lend."
"To them in nature I will stay close by;My voice of thunder in the sky will ring.Of Perkons strong the name will never die;The Latvian folk will ever of it sing.I wish here now you other gods, apace,Will follow close upon my guiding will,And each one swear, at proper time and place,For humankind a promise to fulfil."
Now Patrimps, speaking, rose and left his seat:"The Baltic is a fruitful, fertile land;I give its people golden ears of wheat,That, richly growing, ripen where they stand.The Latvians here from fecund Baltic fieldsWill gather in a harvest full and rich.-But foreign ploughs and sickles seeking yieldsTheir blades will break upon the rock-strewn ditch."
Then Antrimps spoke and gave this message sage:"The Baltic waters boil and heaving swirl,The winter winds in endless anger rage,And round great rocks the currents lashing whirl,And ships of foreign foes dash on the crag.The Baltic Sea will smash them as I please,Until the Baltic people's noble flagThroughout the world will wave upon all seas."
Then, adding more, grim Pakols sternly spoke:"Brave Baltic souls will soar to Heaven's space,A joyous home for Latvia's gallant folk.But Hell for Strangers is the proper place-Beneath the Northern Lights, though fighting still,Their craven hearts will tremble with my fear.But I will show accordance with your will,And bless the souls of Latvia's children dear."
Liga's gift of song
Soon all the gods, in proper order each,Had sworn an oath to Perkons in his might.Now Liga rose, to all her view to teach,And spoke as follows in the Council's sight:"I truly count myself as near the least,Among the gods who love the Baltic race.But in my name the Latvian people feast,For Destiny gives to me a favoured place."
"In Latvians all through long eternal time,Will never die the spirit of sweet song;They will endure in every age and clime,Their spirits sing through joy and sorrow long.Of Liga here the name will stay alive,Eternal in the people's joyous rhyme.The ancient gods will surely still survive,Who otherwise would fade with passing time."
"You Perkons, Laima too, and all the rest,Will live on, known forever in your fame.The Baltic people will at my behestSing songs heroic that preserve your name.Throughout the future, song will bring them cheer,And give them lightened spirit that, once more,They take up arms to serve their homeland dear,And for the cause of freedom go to war."
Staburadze tells of a wonder
These vows the Council brought now to its close-Their homeward paths the gods departing sought.When Staburadze last of all arose,And with these words portentous tidings brought:"I came this day straight from my palace home,With eager news of what my eyes there saw.It happened in the seething waters' foam,The raging vortex of the maelstrom's maw."
"I sat aloft and spun the mists of night,On Staburags's crag enthroned on high.The shuttle filled and in the morning's light,At cock's first crow the blushing dawn was nigh.Then came two witches riding in the air,Lit by the sun they flew in dawn's pale gleam;On oaken branches twisted, gnarled and bare,Across the Daugava sped above the stream."
"And down into the pool a staff they cast,One of the two they through the heavens rode.Then on the other homeward sped off fast,To seek again their dread and drear abode.-To learn the reason for this secret deed,To look into the whirlpool's depths and see,I flew down straight, and took of all good heed,And drew the whirling branch secure to me."
"Then what strange sight before my eyes took form!A handsome youth revealed in morning's grey,Who lay within the log, his skin still warm,Though swooning in a deathly faint he lay.Forth from the log I drew the gasping lad,And bore him to my home beneath the swells,Within its crystal halls now warmly clad,I laid him down upon a bed of shells."
"When signs of life with surging joy I saw,To tell of this I hastened hence to you;To learn great God of Thunder of your law,To know your will and seek your further view.For humankind within the maelstrom's jawsMust lie for ever, turned to lifeless stone.Our Staburags, augmented without pause,Has by such plunder ever vaster grown."
"This youngster now I do desire to takeTo dwell with me inside my castle gate.For if he venture from the sacred lake,To turn at once to stone will be his fate.But in my Crystal Palace he can bide,In human form the bloom of youth to see,There, raised to safety from the river's tide,To live his life in harmony with me."
Stern Tikla chaste, with strict words ever rife,Spoke thus, fair Staburadze to berate:"Perhaps to have eternal godly lifeOur sister now does judge a tedious fate.She does not wish so long alone to mournAnd wash the cliff with flood of bitter tears.She wants the youth of human parents born,And with him yearns to spend the passing years."
Though Staburadze blushed at Tikla's word,She did not yield nor shrink back from the blow."You err, stern Tikla, make a charge absurd.The circumstances clear and plainly show,The youth is not a normal mortal man.I want to keep this lad with me alive,That, chosen by the gods, his life's whole spanHe will against the powers of darkness strive."
Perkons reveals his purpose
At last wise Laima uttered up her view:"To me its plan the future must reveal.Thus, I will look to see what it will do:His lot from me the fates may not conceal."
"Women, enough! Yield place! Be silent all,"The Thunder God in raging anger cried."This youth is chosen not to heed your call,But serves the goals of my surpassing pride.The witches down into the whirlpool castBearslayer, son of Lielvarde's Lord;You, Staburadze, wisely hastened fast;You rescued him and this must all applaud!"
"Depart at once back to your Crystal Throne,And take him in and give him seemly care,That this fair lad may not be turned to stone,But mend apace and flourish with you there.You Laima too will care for this young man,And guide him rightly, so that soon or late,His life will follow and fulfil my plan,To serve the gods and meet a hero's fate."
To close the Council now the time was right;The Baltic gods in pomp departed all.Will Destiny's father, grizzled, deathless might,Again such sacred wisdom ever call?
The slaying of the bear
Since ancient times, in fruitful Baltic lands,Where flows the Daugava in its winding bed,And in the fields the barley ripening stands,A life of joy the Latvians all have led.-Upon the bank once stood by Kegums town,Of Lielvarde's Lord the famous halls.There yet today a cataract pours down,And through the cliffs into the river falls.
Where springtime's spirit kind on nature smiled,A wonder came on its appointed day:The land was waking fast from winter mild,And cheerful folk their labours deemed but play,While tones of youths and maidens blushing coyMixed with the song of birds to greet the morn.All felt within them nature's perfect joy,In ancient times to blissful freedom born.
The Lielvarde Lord strolled in the field,Together with his son, a lad full fair;But eighteen youthful summers was the yield,The span of time that graced the Lord's young heir.The old man ever sought his son to showIn nature how the Godhead close by stands,And in its rhythms mighty powers flow,In heavens, waters, forests, and the lands.
Conversing thus, unmarked their path they foundInto the shadows at the forest's verge;The old man sat to rest upon the ground,Beneath the oaks where woods and meadow merge.When all at once, with angry gnashing jaws,A savage bear from out the forest ran.To save himself the old man had no pause-His life's last breath due in a moment's span.
The young man turned in haste with swiftness rare;He seized the creature by its gaping jaw,With mighty strength he tore apart the bear-A baby goat had troubled him no more.When thus his son revealed such godlike power,The old man trembling uttered up this view:"You are the chosen hero, shown this hour,As prophesied in ancient times for you."
Bearslayer's origins are revealed
"Full eighteen years ago, this very day,A little boat ran up upon the land,And from it stepped a sage both old and grey,Who held secure an infant in his hand.Though agéd, still with youthful step he strode,My task in Fate's great purpose soon laid bare:-To take this sturdy boy to my abode,And raise him, teach and train him as my heir."
"This sage was Vaidelots, sent by the gods,To tell how, deep within the forest wild,A human babe was found against all odds,And that a she-bear's milk sustained the child.-For him, as told, it is the gods' firm will,To be a hero and to strive for right;His name with fear the wicked heart will fill,And evil-doers, trembling, put to flight."
"'There in the West,' his further wisdom said,'Against the God of Thunder risen standsA fearsome herd of raging monsters dread,Whose cross-shaped horns rip at the eastern lands.The gods will fight, and they will live on all,But from our people freedom will be lost.Our famous heroes struggling brave will fall,Against the foreign foe will pay the cost.'"
"'I Vaidelots a lengthy life have had,In Romove's sacred grove of oak;A thousand joyful messages, or sad,I brought to chieftains or to lesser folk.This is the worst, this news I bring,Make known to you, oh Lielvarde's Lord,More difficult for me no other thing,That is a part within my life's rich hoard.'"
"'Yet do not grieve, oh countryman, but know:Remembering the deeds of men of yore,As ages pass the people's strength will grow,And battles won will free our race once more.Though Destiny now not even lets me see,How long the yoke that on our people falls.-Behold, the fading sunlight summons me,The golden Baltic sun my farewell calls!'"
"Wise Vaidelots now ceased, his message brought,And in his boat he hastened to depart.Upon the bank I stood in deepest thought,The herald's passage marked with heavy heart.The Daugava now, in Kegums rapids' spray,Tossed hard the little boat upon the stream.A fading light came from the sun's last ray,The herald's boat fast faded in its gleam."-
"The years since then are gone in time's long span,While Destiny's will I solemnly bore through.The gift of Vaidelots is grown to man,You are that sturdy boy; the child was you!From this day forth, in honour of your deed,'Bearslayer' is your name, most surely meet.You saved your father in the hour of need;The world has seen your first heroic feat."
He is given the task of learning
"I give you now a colt with saddle fine,Trim steed and sword of heavy metal true,A spear, a shield and silver spurs once mine,And headdress trimmed with fur of martens too.Upon the morrow you will haste awayTo Burtnieks's famous castle gate,Where dwells my friend of happy boyhood day-In Burtnieks's Castle lies your fate."
"Both greet and hail, and tell him you aspireTo learn in famous Burtnieks's school,Sent by your father knowledge to acquire,Where virtue true and cunning wisdom rule.Old Burtnieks will take you as a friend,And in his ancient castle clear will showThe chests where sacred tomes the ages spend,That secrets deep of Destiny's purpose know."
"These sacred books our lofty morals teach,And tell about the history of our land,Explain the gods, and faith and duty preach,And sing about the Latvian hero band.Of all this sacred knowledge, and much more,There learn as seven seasons passing go;How heroes bold acquit themselves in war,When they in battle strive against the foe."
He departs from Lielvarde
Next morning, fitted richly as a lord,Bearslayer stood at Lielvarde's gate.He buckled on his massive trusty sword,Took up his spear and shield and felt their weight.He placed his fur-trimmed cap upon his headAnd, standing there before his father dear,Made sad farewell, although no tear was shed.-Though brief and stern, the parting was sincere.
The old man spoke of Lielvarde's fame:"Our ancient clan throughout the folk is known;No shameful stain attaches to our name,Our fathers past their heroes' worth have shown.And you, my son Bearslayer, at your birth,By Destiny's will were marked for honour too;If you pursue his plan and show your worth,The gods will guard you well and cherish you."
"The world's seductions young men's minds soon reach,While youths, unwitting, oft themselves deceive,So hasten not to do what others teach,But let them seek your counsel to receive.To recognize the truth is passing rare,To speak it plain unvarnished harder still;In life who learns true witness brave to bearBecomes attuned to virtue's righteous will."
"Maintain in struggles stout your people's way,Your grandsires' teachings always give respect;And never heed what hypocrites may say,Who urge you freedom's spirit to neglect.Such people for themselves good fortune seek,In finding victims God's name oft employ,But later with the Devil's poison reek;They serve but evil and-at length-destroy."
"The Latvian people on their own fair shoreDo not bow down to lords high-born as sage;They choose themselves their chiefs in time of war-The magistrates in older, peaceful age.The people know of those who earned great fameBy toiling hard in mighty labours long;To these come lasting praise and honoured name,As heroes known they live in endless song."
With earnest soul Bearslayer heard his lord,The heartfelt words of life's wise teachings large.Into his breast an urgent feeling poured,The wish that he fulfil his father's charge.And so he promised to observe all that,Embraced his father, pressed his hand so stout,Then leaped into his saddle, doffed his hat,And, raising shield and lance, rode boldly out.
He arrives at the castle
Within the castle, watching from his chair,Sat old Aizkrauklis wrapped in thought profound.His only daughter, Spidala the fair,Sat at the pane with beads and rings decked round.Her face possessed a haunting beauty rare,But yet her eyes showed wildness without bound.
And so that tender spell she did not weave,That gently draws and steals the young man's heart;Her ardent eyes too swiftly could deceive-To gaze into them risked a burning dart."Oh, Spidala," her father sought her leave,And slowly raised his head in thoughtful art:
"I wish to know an answer still this morn:Whence come those finest jewels that, preening vain,You wear your neck and hands thus to adorn?"-That Spidala then started he saw plain,The question shocked her that his voice had borne,Yet in a trice her answer came again:
"Godmother gave to me these jewels to own,When last into our village she came here;In golden caskets more I have been shown."The old man spoke: "Alas my daughter dear,Such gifts to take I cannot more condone,And in the future must forbid, I fear."
"She is a witch, and in the people's view,A fearsome dragon shelters in her care;She feeds it on the flesh of humans too.The dragon brings her jewels and objects rare,Dark evil things, and so I say to you,A pious girl her gifts should never wear."
Now Spidala, to hide her blushing face,Looked out into the courtyard, near too late,And spoke as though his words she gave no grace:"A visitor is hither come in state.Look where a youthful knight has reached this place,And down below will pass in through the gate!"-
The Castle of Aizkraukle lonely stands,Far distant from the Daugava's verdant bounds,And in the forest roam wild bears in bands,While in the night the howl of wolves loud sounds.Uncertain paths lead through these risky lands,And strangers seldom reach the castle's grounds.
Thus Spidala with wonder took good heed,To see what rider thence the path had brought,Who rode into the castle on his steed.-Aizkrauklis too from out the window soughtTo test of him his measure and his breed,As young Bearslayer reined within the court.
He bowed towards the window, then, polite,He said his path to Burtnieks must run,His neighbour's care he sought thus for the night.-Aizkrauklis hurried out, his friendship won,And warmly told his pleasure at the sightOf famous Lielvarde's mighty son.
Bearslayer falls under Spidala's spell
The handsome youth dismounted lithely then;A stable lad swift to his stirrup ran.He pressed the old man's hand once and again,And entered straight the castle's lofty span.-But soon as Spidala approached the men,Within his bones a shivering cold began.
Such beauty in his life had had no peer!-The deep, dark eyes of Spidala grew wide,And in their depths enchanted flame burned clear.With outstretched hand a greeting warm she cried:"A stately knight so bold is welcome here.A future hero's presence swells our pride."
His tongue struck dumb, Bearslayer found no word.-Of jewelled beauty fit to conquer men,In his short life he had not seen nor heard.-No answer came, so Spidala turned then,With gliding litheness serpentlike she stirred,And deeply gazed into his eyes again.
Her body moved with strangely supple grace,So lithe it made the young man's senses swim.But then Aizkrauklis sent the girl apaceTo make at once and serve a feast for him.-So soon her sensuous beauty left the place,Bearslayer's mind returned to matters grim.