Bearslayer Part 14

He would resist no more, Such opulence evade, On reaching home, he swore, His people to persuade.

As Kaupa now bowed down, The Holy Father's grace Conferred a knight's rich crown With seven stars in place.

Such gifts, both fine and rare, For him alone to own, To knights and bishops there Made Kaupa's favour known.

Since to the knightly throng Now Kaupa numbered too, He soon the blessing strong Of Rome's great Father knew.

Back in the Baltic land His will he would a.s.sert, With weapons in his hand, The Baltic to convert.

In monasteries remained The youths thence Kaupa bore.

Great knowledge there they gained- From monks to learn they swore.

Among them in that place One's later fame has grown; Although of Latvian race, As Henry he is known.

Riga becomes the centre of German influence

The springtime had returned; In green it clothed the days.

New life all nature earned, And sang the maker's praise.-

But Strangers saw no worth, To raise their eyes and see Who made the bounteous Earth, And nature caused to be.

They had a different goal: An idle life to crave, And drunkenness extol, But others to enslave.

On Daugava's bank, the folk In hundreds hewed and filled, Forged iron, hammered oak, A city toiled to build.

With ramparts fortified, Arch, pa.s.sage, columns tall.

A church stood safe inside, Within its lofty wall.

Named "Riga", on the banks It stood, on Daugava's side.

Within its church's ranks Ruled Bishop Albert's pride.

His priests with news he sent, The message of our Lord, But to their preaching lent The power of the sword.

They went throughout the land, To teach and preach of Him, But plundered out of hand, And murdered at their whim.- The Daugava along, They cast a deadly pall, And soon the fear was strong, These monsters would take all.

All Germans who now came, In Riga place received.- The folk cursed Riga's name, And knew they were deceived.

"Oh, Riga, much have you Poured out our brothers' blood!

Oh, Riga, much have, too, Caused bitter tears to flood!"

"Oh, Riga, much you spurned, Laid waste the fields of grain!

Oh, Riga, much you burned- Scarce homes and barns remain!"

"Oh, Riga, you have seized, Like wolves our humble food!

Oh, Riga, you have pleased To swill the beer we brewed!"

"Oh, Riga, you have torn Our plundered things away!

Oh, Riga, you have sworn With freedom we will pay!"

"Oh, Riga, can you find, Yet things that we hold dear?

Oh Riga, what behind, Is left for looting here?

Scene 2: Laimdota and Koknesis in Germany

Laimdota's abduction

While all of this took place, Where down the Daugava falls, In Germany's far s.p.a.ce, Behind a cloister's walls, A weeping maiden lay, To dear ones no recourse, From them false lured away, And carried off by force.

Laimdota was the maid, And Spidala's base lies Deception's guile displayed.- Clad in her mother's guise, She lured the girl outside, Where helpers in her pay Forth made Laimdota ride, From Burtnieks away.

A prisoner in their might To Turaida they brought, And further in the night The Daugava they sought.

Ignoring tears and pleas, Their mercy to implore, They put her on the seas, To sail to German sh.o.r.e.

On board was Dietrich too, Who came to seek her ear, Proposed a calming view, And claimed she need not fear.

Since countrymen she knew On board were at her call, Of Kaupa servants true, No evil could befall.

To study life they went Among the German race, Enlightened with the bent The faith of Christ to face.

G.o.d's mercy deep and wide, Christ soon to her would show, Selected as His bride, Through Him true G.o.d to know!

Laimdota listened grave, Contempt burned in her eye, Then answer briefly gave, A dignified reply: "Though Christ from G.o.d above, Takes brides against their will, I cannot give my love, A promise binds me still."

"I love a hero bold, Have pledged to him my hand, My father's leave we hold, Our hearts united stand.

So therefore let me go, And tempt me not in vain, Or retribution know, And suffer for my pain."

"But more: My mother's child, Of humans I am one, My mortal flesh defiled, Not fit for G.o.d's true Son."

Though evil to the core, No conscience to feel shame, Yet Dietrich flushed once more, As though he felt the blame.

Struck by the maid's lament, Of further words bereft, In silence hence he went, Alone Laimdota left.

Her lot did not improve, Though liberty she sought; False Kaupa did not move To help her as he ought.

He said it was Fate's plan, And so she must remain, Until its course Fate ran, And took her home again.

And thus he saw no crime, If Dietrich fitting found, To put her for some time Within a cloister's bound.

The ferment was so great, On board that was his lot, The maid Laimdota's fate, Enthralled, he soon forgot.

Soon heartless Dietrich too Ceased thinking of the girl, Because full well he knew, A rich and precious pearl A cloister had received.

The grateful prioress, About his goals deceived, Was sure his scheme to bless.

The prioress deferred, Laimdota showed respect, But still to preach preferred; Advice did not neglect To leave old G.o.ds behind, The faith of Christ to take, And when the maid declined, Harsh threats began to make.

She threatened to condone, Support a knight's design, Laimdota as his own, To make a concubine.

Laimdota heard this view And felt a surging fear, Fore all, because she knew, An earl's son had been near.

Kin to the prioress, He had the maiden seen; Her beauty to possess His fervent wish had been.

He urged the nuns anew, The girl to him to give.

The earl was of the view, Those who unchristian live No rights had in that land.

To take the maid, his whim, To do with by his hand What deed perchance pleased him.

So time Laimdota sought, To plan how she could cope, But time no counsel brought, In vain her rescue hope.

Soon came the fateful day, So she the prioress told, Her G.o.ds were laid away: All teachings of the old, The things that she had learned, Through Burtnieks embraced.- In truth, Christ's faith she spurned, And death had rather faced!