Bearslayer Part 25

He claimed his mother was a witch Who 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 fight And 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 G.o.d 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 fear That 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 sent By Bishop Albert to make peace, And through the land as heralds went, That friendship strong might never cease.

Bearslayer never sought a war Unless the cause were justified.

And so good will to Kaupa bore, And willing let him come inside.

At Lielvarde they all stayed As honoured guests so long they would.

And for them there Bearslayer made The best provision that he could.

But still Laimdota restless grew, The Black Knight near her could not bear, Although he sought to change her view With gracious words and flattery fair.

Bearslayer ordered contests held, And tournaments were staged at length.

Then came a day when both had felled Opponents 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 word Swung hard the heavy sword he bore.

At first Bearslayer thought it sport, And jousted in light-hearted way; But, fighting fierce, the Black Knight brought Great strength and litheness to the fray.

And suddenly in swift attack Bearslayer'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 flung Into 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 flood Now 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 screams And 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 pa.s.s 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 see Two 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 there The Strangers to eradicate.- But long Laimdota's watching stare Upon 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.

GLOSSARY OF PERSONAL AND PLACE NAMES

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 p.r.o.nounce that word. This p.r.o.nunciation is necessary for the metrical structure of the English-language poem, and may differ from standard Latvian p.r.o.nunciation. I apologize for any offence that this causes. The syllable represented in the square brackets as "-a" should be p.r.o.nounced as in "bad", the one represented as "-ah" as a long "bad". The syllable represented as "-e" should be p.r.o.nounced 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 Uexkull (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 G.o.d of the Sea.

Austra [Ow-stru]: The G.o.ddess of the Morning/the Dawn.