Bearslayer Part 18

When suddenly, quite near, They reached the Diamond Hill.

Although in mists unclear, The peak bright sparkled still.

The golden glow they neared, Whose rays like diamonds pour..

To land the helmsman steered- The crewmen rushed ash.o.r.e.

All felt now strong the will The Diamond Hill to seek; Bearslayer warned, but still One clambered to the peak.

Up on the hilltop's height, With all to him revealed, Cried: "G.o.d, how fair a sight!"

But then his fate was sealed.

As though on wind's wings borne, From off the hill he flew, Into the air was drawn, And vanished from their view.

A second climbed up high, To where the diamonds shone: "Oh G.o.d, how fair!" his cry, And then-he too was gone!

To miss this fate, a third, Tied to a rope, climbed too.

The same words all then heard- He also slipped from view!

But others seized the line, And could him backwards draw.

Though he would always pine, And never word spoke more.

Bearslayer left this hill, And long they sailed around, Their voyage blind until The light of day they found.

The Enchanted Isle

There was no more delay Upon the journey there; The weather every day Like all the winds was fair.

The vessel soon sailed free, And hope in all was born, To find the Baltic Sea.- Then came a fateful dawn:

At first by fog concealed, An island came in sight, Whose beauty when revealed Filled all with great delight.

Upon Bearslayer dawned, That this the coast must be, Of which the Maiden warned, That draws ships from the sea.-

In vain to flee they sought; The coast neared more and more, Until, by magic caught, They grounded on the sh.o.r.e!

CANTO V THE JOURNEY TO THE HOMELAND

Scene 1: Bearslayer is victorious on the Enchanted Isle

They go ash.o.r.e on the Enchanted Isle

Though Spidala revenge had gained And borne Bearslayer's love away, Within her heart deep hate remained; More evil yet she sought to pay!

So with the crone she northward flew, Set storms and tempests bursting free, To plague Bearslayer and his crew Upon the unknown Northern Sea.

That every man had died is sure, Had North Wind's Daughter not shown guile.- Now further trials they would endure, Upon the strange Enchanted Isle.

Recovered from their early fear, A host of captured ships they saw, All drawn in there throughout the year, Upon the island's lonely sh.o.r.e.

The ships all lay as though pinned fast, The sea waves crashing all around; Their crewmen frozen round the mast, Stood still as stones and made no sound.

Of signs of life the isle was free, Although a path led from a wood, Across a bridge into the sea, And at its end a palace stood.

Bearslayer and his crew of men, Crossed on the bridge, went through the door; But even there no sign again Of any living creature saw.

That someone lived there, this they knew: On tables food and drink were spread, And in another room in view Stood ready made for each a bed.- Not long the sailors chose to wait, But soon the feasting was begun.

They later did not hesitate Into his bed then climbed each one.

Bearslayer warned, it was not good, And they would risk their lives this way, Unless someone as sentry stood, To keep them safe until the day.

At this, Bearslayer they beseeched Himself that night to stand on guard, Their weariness the point had reached, To watch all night would be too hard.

Bearslayer fights the many-headed demons

He armed himself and went outside, Upon the bridge the watch to stand, But for a time no-one he spied, A deathly silence filled the land.

Then as time's pa.s.sage midnight brought, A rider came along the track, But at the bridge his horse stopped short; It baulked and tried to gallop back.

At this, the rider's anger grew.

He shouted in the horse's ear: "What groundless fear is troubling you?

No enemy awaits us here.

Bearslayer bold, my greatest foe, Is lost upon the Northern Sea.

He is too young the course to know, Or come so far to challenge me."

On hearing this Bearslayer swore: "You err, you h.e.l.l-hound, doubt my power; I have indeed come to this sh.o.r.e, And stand before you at this hour!"- A frightful demon with three heads, The rider answered full of spite: "If truly here a hero treads, Then prove your strength and with me fight!"

Along the track they rode ahead, Until thick forest blocked the way.

"Blow down some trees," the demon said, "To make a clearing for the fray!"

"You have three mouths," Bearslayer cried, "That is a task more fit for you!"

And, in a circle three miles wide, The trees fell, when the demon blew.

The way now freed from blocking trees, So hard the demon struck his foe, Bearslayer sank near to his knees Into the island's ground below.

But just as quickly back he fought; His heavy sword flashed in a trice, Its slashing blow the fiend's neck caught, Lopped off one head clean at a slice.

Although the demon struggled hard, Bearslayer hacked its shield to shreds, And with his sword forced down its guard, Then struck off both the other heads.

He took the body and the horse, Deep in the forest both he led, Back to the building traced his course, His armour loosed, and went to bed.

Within the building, sleeping yet, Safe at the bridge's end secure, The sailors faced no further threat, From evil forces guarded sure.

The whole next day they did the same, In celebration drank and ate; But asked Bearslayer when night came, To stand once more and guard the gate.

He armed himself and went out then, Lest on the bridge a guard should lack.

And, see, at midnight once again, A demon rode along the track.

And half aloud the rider thought: "Where can my missing brother be?

No chance that he Bearslayer fought; The youth still roams the Northern Sea."

On hearing this Bearslayer swore: "You err, you h.e.l.l-hound, doubt my power; That I am here you can be sure.

Your brother fell at midnight hour!"

This demon fiend, with six-fold head, Then answered him in angry tones: "If you have struck my brother dead, Then I will hack and crush your bones.

Blow down some trees," it further cried, "To make a clearing for our fight!"

"You have six mouths," the youth replied, "That you should do this task is right!"

The demon blew and, six miles round, No tree could stand, the blast defy.

It struck Bearslayer to the ground, So hard he sank in to the thigh.

But just as quick the youth now fought: His heavy sword flashed in a trice, Its slashing blows the demon caught And two heads fell, lopped at a slice.

In single combat long they strove, Until Bearslayer could prevail.