Bearslayer - Canto Iv The Latvians Suffer Many Hardships Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A B CBCB DEDEFGFG HEHEIJIK LMLMNONO PQPQRSRS IOITUVUV CWCWXYXZ OA2OA2 B2PB2PC2D2C2D2 E2IE2IEF2EF2 G2OG2OPD2PD2 H2 NI2NI2 J2BJ2BK2L2K2L2 M2N2M2N2O2P2O2P2 Q2O2Q2O2R2S2R2S2 ET2ET2E2U2E2P2 V2W2V2W2 IX2IX2 NY2NY2 Z2A3Z2A3 B3LB3L C3D3C3E3 B F3 PG3PG3LH3LH3 A2I3A2I3O2LO2L USUSJ3OJ3O IE3ID3IP2IP2 R2PR2PO2GO2G L2WL2WK3L3K3L3 M3EM3EGY2GY2 N3F3N3F3 OV2OV2N3N3N3N3 O3N3O3N3P3Y2P3Q3 R3N3R3N3N3N3N3N3 N3S3N3S3N3PN3P N3N3N3N3N3T3N3T3 D2U3D2U3 N3D3N3D3PV3PM N3W3N3X3N3T2N3T2 N3Y3N3Y3 N3N3N3N3N3N3N3N3 P N3N3N3N3P3PP3P N3N3N3N3N3N3N3N3 PPPPBN3BN3 N3P2N3P2F3D2F3D2 D3N3D3N3PN3PN3 PPPOS3Z3S3Z3 P2A4P2A4N3GN3G N3N3N3N3POPO N3PN3PS3C2S3C2 PPPP F3N3F3N3E3C2D3C2 N3N3N3N3P3N3P3N3 N3V2N3V2BN3BN3 N3PN3PN3N3N3N3 PB4PB4N3N3N3N3 N3T2N3T2C4GB3G D2Z3D2Z3PGOG D4E4D4E4N3N3N3N3 N3U3N3U3M2F4M2F4 WN3WN3N3N3N3N3 N3BN3B N3G4N3G4N3S3N3S3 N3N3N3N3N3N3N3N3 N3N3N3N3N3L2N3L2 N3PN3ON3GN3G N3 A BM2BM2 E4D4E4D4 N3N3N3N3 B B N3PN3P B B M2BM2B N3BN3B PN3PN3 PD3PD3 H4N3H4N3 N3N3N3N3 L2D3L2D3 N3N3N3N3 H4BH4B N3D2N3D2 H4C2H4C2 N3I4N3I4 B2P2B2P2 N3V3N3V3 H4A4H4A4 ON3ON3 D3WD3W A N3N3N3N3D3N3E3N3 N3N3N3N3F4N3F4N3 N3P2N3P2OT3PT3 N3J4N3D2OE4OE4 N3ON3PPN3PN3 GN3GN3PPPP C2N3C2N3N3N3N3N3 N3BN3BN3N3N3N3 D3PD3PN3N3N3N3 N3N3N3N3N3D3N3D3 Q3N3Y2N3 GN3GN3 PK4PO A4A4A4A4 L4 N3 N3N3N3N3L2A4L2A4 POPON3PN3P GD3GD3N3Q3N3Q3 PH4M4H4N3N3N3N3 N3N3N3N3N3N3N3N3 N3F3N3F3N3N3N3N3 N3PN3PV3C2V3C2 N3WN3WN3C2N3C2 XN4XN4N3Q3N3Q3 D3GD3GPBPB N3N3N3N3 Q3N3Q3N3N3T3N3T3 Y2O4Q3O4C2OC2O N3N3N3N3PGPG N3A4N3A4BOBO N3P4N3P4 B N3B2N3B2N3N3N3N3 F3Q4F3Q4H4E2H4E2 N3ON3O BD3BD3V3D3MD3 Q3A4H4A4BN3BN3 N3N3N3N3N3E3N3D3 BN3BN3P4D2P4D2 OL2OL2N3H4N3H4 L2R4L2R4A4N3A4N3 N3H4N3H4A4A4A4A4 C2N3C2N3N3S4N3S4 N3N3N3N3 D3N3D3N3N3N3N3N3 OL2OL2BE4BE4 OBOB B BN3BN3T4N3T4N3 N3F3N3F3N3N3N3N3 BN3BN3 E3N3D3N3N3N3N3N3 E2N3E2N3N3H4N3H4 F3GF3G B Q3BQ3BH4WH4W R4A4R4A4N3BN3B D3A4D3A4N3ON3O A4XA4XN3N3N3N3 B3N3C4N3WD2WC4 N3N3N3N3U3PU3O A4N3A4N3 A4 N3C2N3C2BB3BC4 N3N3N3N3N3BN3B N3ON3O

Scene Kaupa is seduced by wealth and power	A
	-
Kaupa accepts Christianity	B
	-
In mighty ancient Rome	C
The Pope's eternal See	B
He called from Peter's dome	C
The Holy Land to free	B
	-
The Baltic he decreed	D
To be the Holy Land	E
All knights from sin he freed	D
Committed by their hand	E
If in the Baltic's bounds	F
They fought the pagan foe	G
Built castles in strong grounds	F
That priests might safely go	G
	-
His call to arms soon raised	H
A fortune seeking band	E
Who loud the venture praised	H
They sought estates and land	E
Such men their fate pursue	I
And sail to foreign shores	J
They seek a homeland new	I
And follow no man's laws	K
	-
In Peter's Church one day	L
The Pope absolved their sin	M
A bishop gave to pray	L
And leaders from his kin	M
At last to those he turned	N
Come from the Baltic shore	O
His blessings Dietrich earned	N
To Kaupa he gave more	O
	-
They were allowed with grace	P
To kiss his slippered feet	Q
With Kaupa face to face	P
The Pope then deigned to meet	Q
He asked of Baltic tribes	R
If Christ's true faith they sought	S
The faith now sent with scribes	R
To them as brothers brought	S
	-
Theirs were as brothers too	I
The benefits and more	O
That round them stood in view	I
Or on the way they saw	T
Yet all of that was slight	U
Against the endless price	V
That is believers' right	U
When death brings paradise	V
	-
Now Kaupa thought of home	C
The wealth could not deny	W
In Peter's Church in Rome	C
Arrayed before his eye	W
His ancient sires seemed weak	X
Their gods could not thus bless	Y
He vowed the God to seek	X
Who gave such happiness	Z
	-
He would resist no more	O
Such opulence evade	A2
On reaching home he swore	O
His people to persuade	A2
	-
As Kaupa now bowed down	B2
The Holy Father's grace	P
Conferred a knight's rich crown	B2
With seven stars in place	P
Such gifts both fine and rare	C2
For him alone to own	D2
To knights and bishops there	C2
Made Kaupa's favour known	D2
	-
Since to the knightly throng	E2
Now Kaupa numbered too	I
He soon the blessing strong	E2
Of Rome's great Father knew	I
Back in the Baltic land	E
His will he would assert	F2
With weapons in his hand	E
The Baltic to convert	F2
	-
In monasteries remained	G2
The youths thence Kaupa bore	O
Great knowledge there they gained	G2
From monks to learn they swore	O
Among them in that place	P
One's later fame has grown	D2
Although of Latvian race	P
As Henry he is known	D2
	-
Riga becomes the centre of German influence	H2
	-
The springtime had returned	N
In green it clothed the days	I2
New life all nature earned	N
And sang the maker's praise	I2
	-
But Strangers saw no worth	J2
To raise their eyes and see	B
Who made the bounteous Earth	J2
And nature caused to be	B
They had a different goal	K2
An idle life to crave	L2
And drunkenness extol	K2
But others to enslave	L2
	-
On Daugava's bank the folk	M2
In hundreds hewed and filled	N2
Forged iron hammered oak	M2
A city toiled to build	N2
With ramparts fortified	O2
Arch passage columns tall	P2
A church stood safe inside	O2
Within its lofty wall	P2
	-
Named Riga on the banks	Q2
It stood on Daugava's side	O2
Within its church's ranks	Q2
Ruled Bishop Albert's pride	O2
His priests with news he sent	R2
The message of our Lord	S2
But to their preaching lent	R2
The power of the sword	S2
	-
They went throughout the land	E
To teach and preach of Him	T2
But plundered out of hand	E
And murdered at their whim	T2
The Daugava along	E2
They cast a deadly pall	U2
And soon the fear was strong	E2
These monsters would take all	P2
	-
All Germans who now came	V2
In Riga place received	W2
The folk cursed Riga's name	V2
And knew they were deceived	W2
	-
Oh Riga much have you	I
Poured out our brothers' blood	X2
Oh Riga much have too	I
Caused bitter tears to flood	X2
	-
Oh Riga much you spurned	N
Laid waste the fields of grain	Y2
Oh Riga much you burned	N
Scarce homes and barns remain	Y2
	-
Oh Riga you have seized	Z2
Like wolves our humble food	A3
Oh Riga you have pleased	Z2
To swill the beer we brewed	A3
	-
Oh Riga you have torn	B3
Our plundered things away	L
Oh Riga you have sworn	B3
With freedom we will pay	L
	-
Oh Riga can you find	C3
Yet things that we hold dear	D3
Oh Riga what behind	C3
Is left for looting here	E3
	-
	-
Scene Laimdota and Koknesis in Germany	B
	-
Laimdota's abduction	F3
	-
While all of this took place	P
Where down the Daugava falls	G3
In Germany's far space	P
Behind a cloister's walls	G3
A weeping maiden lay	L
To dear ones no recourse	H3
From them false lured away	L
And carried off by force	H3
	-
Laimdota was the maid	A2
And Spidala's base lies	I3
Deception's guile displayed	A2
Clad in her mother's guise	I3
She lured the girl outside	O2
Where helpers in her pay	L
Forth made Laimdota ride	O2
From Burtnieks away	L
	-
A prisoner in their might	U
To Turaida they brought	S
And further in the night	U
The Daugava they sought	S
Ignoring tears and pleas	J3
Their mercy to implore	O
They put her on the seas	J3
To sail to German shore	O
	-
On board was Dietrich too	I
Who came to seek her ear	E3
Proposed a calming view	I
And claimed she need not fear	D3
Since countrymen she knew	I
On board were at her call	P2
Of Kaupa servants true	I
No evil could befall	P2
	-
To study life they went	R2
Among the German race	P
Enlightened with the bent	R2
The faith of Christ to face	P
God's mercy deep and wide	O2
Christ soon to her would show	G
Selected as His bride	O2
Through Him true God to know	G
	-
Laimdota listened grave	L2
Contempt burned in her eye	W
Then answer briefly gave	L2
A dignified reply	W
Though Christ from God above	K3
Takes brides against their will	L3
I cannot give my love	K3
A promise binds me still	L3
	-
I love a hero bold	M3
Have pledged to him my hand	E
My father's leave we hold	M3
Our hearts united stand	E
So therefore let me go	G
And tempt me not in vain	Y2
Or retribution know	G
And suffer for my pain	Y2
	-
But more My mother's child	N3
Of humans I am one	F3
My mortal flesh defiled	N3
Not fit for God's true Son	F3
	-
Though evil to the core	O
No conscience to feel shame	V2
Yet Dietrich flushed once more	O
As though he felt the blame	V2
Struck by the maid's lament	N3
Of further words bereft	N3
In silence hence he went	N3
Alone Laimdota left	N3
	-
Her lot did not improve	O3
Though liberty she sought	N3
False Kaupa did not move	O3
To help her as he ought	N3
He said it was Fate's plan	P3
And so she must remain	Y2
Until its course Fate ran	P3
And took her home again	Q3
	-
And thus he saw no crime	R3
If Dietrich fitting found	N3
To put her for some time	R3
Within a cloister's bound	N3
The ferment was so great	N3
On board that was his lot	N3
The maid Laimdota's fate	N3
Enthralled he soon forgot	N3
	-
Soon heartless Dietrich too	N3
Ceased thinking of the girl	S3
Because full well he knew	N3
A rich and precious pearl	S3
A cloister had received	N3
The grateful prioress	P
About his goals deceived	N3
Was sure his scheme to bless	P
	-
The prioress deferred	N3
Laimdota showed respect	N3
But still to preach preferred	N3
Advice did not neglect	N3
To leave old gods behind	N3
The faith of Christ to take	T3
And when the maid declined	N3
Harsh threats began to make	T3
	-
She threatened to condone	D2
Support a knight's design	U3
Laimdota as his own	D2
To make a concubine	U3
	-
Laimdota heard this view	N3
And felt a surging fear	D3
Fore all because she knew	N3
An earl's son had been near	D3
Kin to the prioress	P
He had the maiden seen	V3
Her beauty to possess	P
His fervent wish had been	M
	-
He urged the nuns anew	N3
The girl to him to give	W3
The earl was of the view	N3
Those who unchristian live	X3
No rights had in that land	N3
To take the maid his whim	T2
To do with by his hand	N3
What deed perchance pleased him	T2
	-
So time Laimdota sought	N3
To plan how she could cope	Y3
But time no counsel brought	N3
In vain her rescue hope	Y3
	-
Soon came the fateful day	N3
So she the prioress told	N3
Her gods were laid away	N3
All teachings of the old	N3
The things that she had learned	N3
Through Burtnieks embraced	N3
In truth Christ's faith she spurned	N3
And death had rather faced	N3
	-
	-
Laimdota is rescued by Koknesis	P
	-
One evening having strayed	N3
With tears into her bed	N3
To spirits good she prayed	N3
That help to her be led	N3
Then tumult loud began	P3
Spread through the cloister's bounds	P
The people rushed and ran	P3
And prayed with frightened sounds	P
	-
At length the shouting died	N3
Her room loud footsteps neared	N3
Her door was opened wide	N3
And in it there appeared	N3
Men all in armour clad	N3
With weapons in their hand	N3
The guards and monks were glad	N3
There at their side to stand	N3
	-
One monk with glutton's face	P
Spoke to the armoured ranks	P
The pagan take apace	P
We give her up with thanks	P
For long enough has she	B
This sacred place defiled	N3
Take her and ride out free	B
And cleanse our cloister mild	N3
	-
The monks she loud implored	N3
The prioress to call	P2
Protection to afford	N3
That nothing should befall	P2
But they refused as one	F3
The reason was well known	D2
For with each other nun	F3
The prioress had flown	D2
	-
Of plunderers in fear	D3
Their church the nuns sought fast	N3
And forth would not appear	D3
Until all risk was past	N3
Then iron clad hands with force	P
Laimdota dragged outside	N3
They flung her on a horse	P
And made away to ride	N3
	-
But blocking them their place	P
A single man they saw	P
He held an iron mace	P
And shook it with a roar	O
Release this blameless girl	S3
Surrender now and leave	Z3
Or with this club I whirl	S3
My arm your skulls will cleave	Z3
	-
Surprised to hear this call	P2
At first they heeded well	A4
But then as one they all	P2
Upon the stranger fell	A4
At this the man revealed	N3
Strength others cannot show	G
With skill he used his shield	N3
And parried every blow	G
	-
He swung his club with hate	N3
Against each armoured head	N3
The men who felt its weight	N3
With cloven helmet bled	N3
He struck the one with force	P
Whose steed Laimdota bore	O
The man fell from his horse	P
And loose his helmet tore	O
	-
The earl's son all espied	N3
Who lay before their eyes	P
You dog the stranger cried	N3
You cur in Christian guise	P
Know that this free born girl	S3
Is to such honour heir	C2
Unworthy any earl	S3
For her her cup to bear	C2
	-
In virtue without lapse	P
In woman's form and face	P
In Germany perhaps	P
No equal has your race	P
	-
Go To your comrades run	F3
Tell them in Baltic land	N3
Each free born woman's son	F3
Will crush them by his hand	N3
As I tonight did here	E3
Your life this day I spare	C2
But if our lands you near	D3
Then face me if you dare	C2
	-
Laimdota's senses cleared	N3
As this the man declared	N3
His face at last appeared	N3
Beneath his helmet bared	N3
A cry of joy began	P3
Within the moonlight grew	N3
Laimdota saw the man	P3
And straight Koknesis knew	N3
	-
Koknesis took her hand	N3
This greeting to proclaim	V2
To Gods and spirits grand	N3
Give thanks in time I came	V2
Together we must flee	B
We cannot here delay	N3
Hence you must ride with me	B
My fate learn on the way	N3
	-
Into the saddle straight	N3
Both leaped on horses' backs	P
Rode out and did not wait	N3
On rutted forest tracks	P
A distant mountain hut	N3
Gave shelter for the night	N3
The folk who firewood cut	N3
Helped strangers in their plight	N3
	-
They rested for some days	P
Then rode a further stage	B4
Laimdota found good ways	P
Disguised to be a page	B4
Koknesis was her knight	N3
They from a seaport planned	N3
By ship to make their flight	N3
To reach their Fatherland	N3
	-
Koknesis on the way	N3
Told her his story grim	T2
One night in bed he lay	N3
When Kangars came to him	T2
Said Kaupa at the dawn	C4
To Germany would go	G
Dispatches must be borne	B3
For Burtnieks to know	G
	-
Since Burtnieks alone	D2
Kept watch on All Souls' Eve	Z3
Koknesis to him known	D2
The message should receive	Z3
No harm Koknesis saw	P
To Turaida to go	G
Where waited on the shore	O
Young men that he would know	G
	-
With Kaupa soon to sail	D4
Upon the German trip	E4
With pleasure they would hail	D4
Koknesis on the ship	E4
Koknesis gave assent	N3
When Kangars told his plight	N3
He had no document	N3
Until the morning light	N3
	-
Aboard they broke their fast	N3
And Kangars gave them wine	U3
A gift from Dietrich passed	N3
Since none would thirst confine	U3
But drank deep at a stroke	M2
They all were soon asleep	F4
And when Koknesis woke	M2
The ship rocked on the deep	F4
	-
Just landless sea and sky	W
He saw now all around	N3
His heavy head asked why	W
And shame within him found	N3
His thirst had so prevailed	N3
With appetite so hot	N3
That with them he had sailed	N3
If this he willed or not	N3
	-
The others swift condoled	N3
That not all bad would be	B
And with the thought consoled	N3
Soon Germany to see	B
	-
To Germany now sent	N3
With monks to live and learn	G4
Koknesis seemed content	N3
New wisdom thus to earn	G4
But visits soon he paid	N3
And time spent with an earl	S3
There to the knights displayed	N3
His strength in jousting's whirl	S3
	-
All there his skill admired	N3
His agile arm's strong weight	N3
But news was not acquired	N3
About Laimdota's fate	N3
But later there he heard	N3
That in a cloister's court	N3
A woman was interred	N3
Thence from the Baltic brought	N3
	-
The earl desired the maid	N3
To seize her deemed it right	N3
The cloister's grounds to raid	N3
And steal her in the night	N3
Her fate Koknesis knew	N3
Thus earnest vow he gave	L2
The unknown maiden true	N3
From such a fate to save	L2
	-
When at the cloister gate	N3
Laimdota's face he saw	P
He felt an endless hate	N3
And caution was no more	O
And thus the slaughter grew	N3
No mercy would he show	G
The earl's son humbled too	N3
For misdeeds pain must know	G
	-
	-
Scene In the Realm of the North Wind	N3
	-
The boatmen's song summons the North Wind's Daughter	A
	-
Long parted from the quay	B
Thus sang the sailor folk	M2
Upon the Northern Sea	B
Good fortune to invoke	M2
	-
Oh father build a ship	E4
Oh mother weave the sail	D4
We seek straight from the slip	E4
The North Wind's Daughter pale	D4
	-
We travel night and day	N3
No North Wind's Daughter find	N3
And reach a northern bay	N3
Where snow three giants grind	N3
	-
'Our greetings grinders three	B
Comes North Wind's Daughter forth '	-
'Thanks travellers on the sea	B
No sail on further north '	-
	-
We travel night and day	N3
The Daughter seeking twice	P
And reach a northern bay	N3
Where giants forge pure ice	P
	-
'Our greeting icesmiths three	B
Comes North Wind's Daughter forth '	-
'Thanks travellers on the sea	B
No sail on further north '	-
	-
Thus sang the sailor folk	M2
Upon the Northern Sea	B
Until the helmsman spoke	M2
Their way no more was free	B
	-
Bearslayer in this boat	N3
Sailed on the Northern Sea	B
To Germany afloat	N3
To set Laimdota free	B
	-
But battered by the force	P
Of wind and storm that blew	N3
And lost far from the course	P
The way no more they knew	N3
	-
It seemed that evil powers	P
Sea ghosts were ever near	D3
In day and night time hours	P
They filled the crew with fear	D3
	-
Dank mists and deepest gloom	H4
The light blocked as they swirled	N3
While hail and snow filled spume	H4
Were by the North Wind hurled	N3
	-
Then where the sky's edge gleamed	N3
A brilliant glow forth surged	N3
And from the glow what seemed	N3
To be a sail emerged	N3
	-
Across the dark sea wave	L2
Its course approached them near	D3
Close up assurance gave	L2
It was a ship was clear	D3
	-
And at the helmsman's side	N3
A woman they could view	N3
Who nearing sweetly cried	N3
In greeting to the crew	N3
	-
Your song to my ears came	H4
Called me across the sea	B
You called aloud my name	H4
Say what you want from me	B
	-
The sailors were amazed	N3
And stood as turned to stone	D2
In wonder they all gazed	N3
The North Wind's Daughter shown	D2
	-
Her face was peach and cream	H4
Reflected in the glare	C2
Eyes blue as Heaven's gleam	H4
Shone in the north's pure air	C2
	-
Her hair was long and gold	N3
And to her shoulders hung	I4
She wore they could behold	N3
A rainbow robe that clung	I4
	-
And on her form flowed down	B2
A snow white woollen shawl	P2
Upon her head no crown	B2
Instead a helmet tall	P2
	-
And weapons she had too	N3
Within the ship there seen	V3
Bow spear and shield on view	N3
Stout forged from copper green	V3
	-
Thus was the Daughter's form	H4
About which legends tell	A4
That she provokes the storm	H4
All sailors know full well	A4
	-
With terrors she can soar	O
Into the northern height	N3
Lead souls of men to war	O
All formed up for the fight	N3
	-
And when each lets his spear	D3
In warlike manner fly	W
On earth the people fear	D3
Say War and plague are nigh	W
	-
	-
In the domain of the North Wind's Daughter	A
	-
As first Bearslayer stirred	N3
The North Wind's Daughter told	N3
That lost they were interred	N3
Within the northern cold	N3
But their desire was clear	D3
The homeward course to find	N3
The North Wind's Daughter here	E3
To help might be inclined	N3
	-
The Maiden now explained	N3
That this was hard to do	N3
Few crews the course obtained	N3
A very seldom few	N3
To trap them in this deep	F4
Great storms the North Wind sent	N3
Her father who his sleep	F4
In ice bound caverns spent	N3
	-
Yet longer he would rest	N3
Perhaps a month in all	P2
For them to stay were best	N3
Safe in her island hall	P2
Then later firm she swore	O
To strive hard for their sake	T3
No course Bearslayer saw	P
But her advice to take	T3
	-
The North Wind's Daughter steered	N3
Her ship sailed further on	J4
To where bright had appeared	N3
The glow that earlier shone	D2
And at an island's shore	O
Its hills in icy grip	E4
Her craft she docked once more	O
Here led Bearslayer's ship	E4
	-
She took him with his crew	N3
Far inland from the shore	O
Where they with wondering view	N3
A splendid castle saw	P
Its towers roof and walls	P
Of ice were frozen hard	N3
They stayed outside its halls	P
The North Wind's sleep to guard	N3
	-
Across broad fields of snow	G
Rose smoke clouds from the land	N3
Her guests she told to go	G
And gestured with her hand	N3
Some way they went apace	P
The air soon ceased to freeze	P
And snow drifts now gave place	P
To fields and groves of trees	P
	-
Within a garden fair	C2
Was deep as Hell a pit	N3
Whence flames shot in the air	C2
From fires eternal lit	N3
As they at Earth's core burned	N3
Their endless flames rose hot	N3
This icy island turned	N3
Into a verdant plot	N3
	-
Dense foliage full of fruit	N3
Hung there upon each tree	B
With babbling brooks to suit	N3
All creatures lived carefree	B
Wild birds and beasts of prey	N3
But farmyard creatures too	N3
Could flourish here and play	N3
In meadows sweet with dew	N3
	-
The North Wind's Daughter's spear	D3
Upon her shield struck thrice	P
This made small folk appear	D3
From all sides in a trice	P
At Earth's far edge they dwelled	N3
And served the Maid's behest	N3
These folk she now compelled	N3
To welcome every guest	N3
	-
A pavilion they observed	N3
Where tables full were laid	N3
Delicious food was served	N3
And all was ready made	N3
The North Wind's Daughter bade	N3
Her guests should there appear	D3
And while they ate was glad	N3
To serve to each sweet beer	D3
	-
Another tent again	Q3
Had beds all warm prepared	N3
That rest might dull the pain	Y2
Of hardships they had shared	N3
	-
No sun could come or go	G
They knew not day or night	N3
Yet still the pit's bright glow	G
Gave forth sufficient light	N3
	-
The time passed full of ease	P
Of pleasures they were sure	K4
Each day as much could please	P
As had the one before	O
	-
They stayed a goodly spell	A4
Could all their needs fulfil	A4
It pleased them there so well	A4
To leave none had the will	A4
	-
	-
Scene The journey back	L4
	-
They leave the Northern Land	N3
	-
At last Bearslayer stirred	N3
The Maiden he implored	N3
To show the course preferred	N3
And let them go on board	N3
The North Wind's Daughter gave	L2
Her vow all to fulfil	A4
But sought their lives to save	L2
With better counsel still	A4
	-
For he should not retrace	P
The path he took before	O
Because he there would face	P
His enemies of yore	O
Who now might well succeed	N3
To smash him with their force	P
Therefore he should proceed	N3
Along a better course	P
	-
This path was long to go	G
And full of risks severe	D3
But known not to the foe	G
Whose envy he must fear	D3
The course would lead him past	N3
The Land of Ogres then	Q3
Along the coast at last	N3
To reach his home again	Q3
	-
Like people with dog's jaw	P
Thus was the ogres' form	H4
They ate their meat while raw	M4
And drank fresh blood still warm	H4
No mercy could distract	N3
Their hunt for humankind	N3
On foot their prey they tracked	N3
Killed all that they could find	N3
	-
Still men could foil their hunt	N3
By wearing footwear turned	N3
The heel towards the front	N3
So none their path discerned	N3
Still further was a land	N3
Where lived in caves deep set	N3
Of little folk a band	N3
Who helped all those they met	N3
	-
Within their lands were found	N3
The Gardens of the Sun	F3
So when it from the ground	N3
Rose up its course to run	F3
It hung close to your hand	N3
Which meant at dawn of day	N3
In caves they had to stand	N3
Or burn up in its ray	N3
	-
Here shelves nobody knew	N3
Nor cups on hooks hung loose	P
Behind the clouds they threw	N3
Their spoons straight after use	P
To get the washing clean	V3
The maids boiled what they wear	C2
Then clouds of steam were seen	V3
And storms formed in the air	C2
	-
On leaving from this land	N3
No more they would see sky	W
But in the darkness stand	N3
And endless sea pass by	W
At length their eyes would sight	N3
A Hill of Diamonds rare	C2
That sparkles giving light	N3
Yet none to land should dare	C2
	-
Bright shining is the peak	X
It glistens without stop	N4
But let no sailor seek	X
To climb up to the top	N4
Still further on their way	N3
The sky would lighten then	Q3
The night would yield to day	N3
And they would see again	Q3
	-
A verdant island near	D3
Its beauty plain would show	G
But let them all know fear	D3
And never closer go	G
This island to it draws	P
All vessels from the sea	B
And once upon its shores	P
They never more come free	B
	-
If cunning he revealed	N3
Through all these troubles passed	N3
The Northern Sea would yield	N3
And bring him home at last	N3
	-
Heartfelt Bearslayer then	Q3
His earnest thanks could say	N3
Together called his men	Q3
To set out on their way	N3
But quickly they all scorned	N3
Their life of ease to break	T3
The North Wind's Daughter warned	N3
Her father soon would wake	T3
	-
Then all would be in vain	Y2
Their homes they would not reach	O4
They hurried back again	Q3
And rushed down to the beach	O4
Their ship they found safe there	C2
As it had been before	O
It needed no repair	C2
To leave this northern shore	O
	-
But ice flows formed up fast	N3
And ringed them all around	N3
They felt earth tremors vast	N3
That shook the island's ground	N3
The North Wind's Daughter's cries	P
Were Save yourselves and go	G
My father soon will rise	P
And winter storms will blow	G
	-
Then all knew that they must	N3
At once raise up the sail	A4
And with the wind's first gust	N3
They tried to flee the gale	A4
They scarcely were at sea	B
When with a tempest's roar	O
The snow capped waves rose free	B
The North Wind slept no more	O
	-
In fear of death the crew	N3
Exerted all their strength	P4
Before the wind they flew	N3
And got to sea at length	P4
	-
	-
The Land of the Dog Snout Ogres	B
	-
Long hours in waves they heaved	N3
Until about to drown	B2
Their troubles were relieved	N3
Land found the anchor down	B2
They seemed from death here saved	N3
But new risks were at hand	N3
Blown by the storm just braved	N3
Into the Ogres' Land	N3
	-
The storm its course had run	F3
The sea could gently rock	Q4
The sailors had begun	F3
To take of things good stock	Q4
The ship survived the storm	H4
Which showed that it was strong	E2
Repairs they would perform	H4
Their voyage then prolong	E2
	-
As far as eye could sight	N3
It was an empty shore	O
The crew thus thought it right	N3
To go on land once more	O
	-
Upon a mossy rise	B
Some doe were grazing near	D3
Bearslayer for supplies	B
Went out to hunt the deer	D3
A hope formed from this scene	V3
These parts could well be clear	D3
No Dog Snouts might have been	M
Perhaps they need not fear	D3
	-
Bearslayer with some men	Q3
Approached the mossy hill	A4
Already deer for them	H4
He had contrived to kill	A4
And now with dagger blows	B
This meat they would share round	N3
Then from the hill arose	B
A horrid shrieking sound	N3
	-
And from a cave now poured	N3
The Dog Faced Monsters out	N3
Surrounded by this horde	N3
The men yet battled stout	N3
But doglike teeth soon ripped	N3
To shreds men fighting here	E3
Bearslayer firmly gripped	N3
And faced them with his spear	D3
	-
He stabbed the howling gangs	B
But still could not prevent	N3
That with their vicious fangs	B
His hip and side they rent	N3
He had not found the strength	P4
To hold them long alone	D2
If not a thought at length	P4
Had saving counsel shown	D2
	-
No monsters any more	O
Were pouring from the cave	L2
So he rushed to its door	O
Therein himself to save	L2
Now standing in this way	N3
He could with sturdy limb	H4
Drive off or quickly slay	N3
All those that ran at him	H4
	-
A howl the monsters gave	L2
When first they saw this trick	R4
Then rolled before the cave	L2
Great boulders broad and thick	R4
They heaped the stones until	A4
The entrance they secured	N3
Bearslayer waited still	A4
Within the cave immured	N3
	-
The sailors could not wait	N3
Until the hunters came	H4
But orders did not state	N3
To seek them all the same	H4
They worked on board until	A4
All readied was to sail	A4
Their comrades missing still	A4
They sought to no avail	A4
	-
They felt a special care	C2
About Bearslayer too	N3
Without his presence there	C2
They knew not what to do	N3
But then the helmsman cried	N3
Bearslayer comes see now	S4
And soon with hurried stride	N3
He reached the ship's sharp prow	S4
	-
He did not wish to wait	N3
But sailed without delay	N3
Then told the hunters' fate	N3
And how he got away	N3
	-
Low in the cave's dark rear	D3
An opening small he found	N3
That with his heavy spear	D3
He widened all around	N3
Within the cave there lay	N3
Some half raw scraps of meat	N3
Of that on every day	N3
A portion he could eat	N3
	-
And after some days more	O
He fled from in the cave	L2
The Dog Snouts to the door	O
Their full attention gave	L2
And so they had no chance	B
He gave them all the slip	E4
Without a backward glance	B
He set off to the ship	E4
	-
They travelled far once more	O
Across the distant sea	B
Until they reached the shore	O
A land where they were free	B
	-
	-
The Kingdom of Dreams	B
	-
The East of legend place	B
Where dreams their kingdom find	N3
First bore the human race	B
The cradle of our kind	N3
Here sky and ground both merge	T4
Do not exist apart	N3
The gates at Heaven's verge	T4
Near Hell's domain here start	N3
	-
Here is the home behold	N3
The sons of Perkons won	F3
Where bright they forge their gold	N3
In Gardens of the Sun	F3
Its Daughters care devote	N3
Grow golden apples bright	N3
Safe in a diamond boat	N3
Here sleeps the Sun each night	N3
	-
Each morning new its steeds	B
Swim in the ocean's tide	N3
With golden reins it leads	B
Them from a mountainside	N3
	-
The people living here	E3
Enjoy a happy lot	N3
Like children nothing fear	D3
Of evil know no jot	N3
The Gods' Sons them protect	N3
From what foul spirits do	N3
Their destiny close direct	N3
The Sun's fair Daughters too	N3
	-
Bearslayer stayed here long	E2
And with his men lived through	N3
Of happy days a throng	E2
Saw many wonders too	N3
The people of the land	N3
Protected them from harm	H4
And sought to show the band	N3
The country's special charm	H4
	-
The Gardens of the Sun	F3
Alone they did not show	G
To live mankind must shun	F3
The splendour of their glow	G
	-
	-
The Hill of Diamonds	B
	-
Bearslayer once again	Q3
To set off homeward chose	B
The happy day came when	Q3
Before the Sun arose	B
And crossed through Heaven's dome	H4
The sails were raised up high	W
The ship set out for home	H4
Beyond the land and sky	W
	-
The darkness was as thick	R4
As in the depths of Hell	A4
The sailors could not pick	R4
One from the other tell	A4
But somewhere far away	N3
A glimmer caught their glance	B
They steered the ship that way	N3
To seize this happy chance	B
	-
When suddenly quite near	D3
They reached the Diamond Hill	A4
Although in mists unclear	D3
The peak bright sparkled still	A4
The golden glow they neared	N3
Whose rays like diamonds pour	O
To land the helmsman steered	N3
The crewmen rushed ashore	O
	-
All felt now strong the will	A4
The Diamond Hill to seek	X
Bearslayer warned but still	A4
One clambered to the peak	X
Up on the hilltop's height	N3
With all to him revealed	N3
Cried God how fair a sight	N3
But then his fate was sealed	N3
	-
As though on wind's wings borne	B3
From off the hill he flew	N3
Into the air was drawn	C4
And vanished from their view	N3
A second climbed up high	W
To where the diamonds shone	D2
Oh God how fair his cry	W
And then he too was gone	C4
	-
To miss this fate a third	N3
Tied to a rope climbed too	N3
The same words all then heard	N3
He also slipped from view	N3
But others seized the line	U3
And could him backwards draw	P
Though he would always pine	U3
And never word spoke more	O
	-
Bearslayer left this hill	A4
And long they sailed around	N3
Their voyage blind until	A4
The light of day they found	N3
	-
	-
The Enchanted Isle	A4
	-
There was no more delay	N3
Upon the journey there	C2
The weather every day	N3
Like all the winds was fair	C2
The vessel soon sailed free	B
And hope in all was born	B3
To find the Baltic Sea	B
Then came a fateful dawn	C4
	-
At first by fog concealed	N3
An island came in sight	N3
Whose beauty when revealed	N3
Filled all with great delight	N3
Upon Bearslayer dawned	N3
That this the coast must be	B
Of which the Maiden warned	N3
That draws ships from the sea	B
	-
In vain to flee they sought	N3
The coast neared more and more	O
Until by magic caught	N3
They grounded on the shore	O

Andrejs Pumpurs

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