Bearslayer Part 21

The people come together and give thanks

In Latvia now Midsummer came, Called forth its children with one word, The country over, all the same, Now "Ligo, Ligo," clear was heard!

The nightingale with sweet refrain By every brook and streamlet trilled.

Midsummer, Liga's Eve, again The carefree folk with pleasure filled.

Up to the Azure Mountain borne, The logs burned bright, for fires thence hauled.

The Ligusoni Priests' loud horn All to the festive evening called.

And thence they came, both young and old, Both great and small, a happy throng.

The men brought mead from honey gold, The wives brought cheese and bread along.

The lads and la.s.ses with them bore Soft gra.s.s and wreaths of flowers too, That on Midsummer's Eve all wore, Adorned themselves, and pleasure knew.

They danced, they ate, they drank, And down their offerings put; The priests, the folk to thank, Led to the altar's foot, Poured goblets full of mead, Burned costly herbs and rare, Whose sweet aromas, freed, Rose swirling in the air.

Together they all sang The famous songs and prayers, That to the G.o.ddess rang, And solace brought from cares:

"With love we look to you, Ligo, Ligo, Linked here in friends.h.i.+p true, Ligo!"

"Our humble farms now bless, Ligo, Ligo, Fill barns with your largesse, Ligo!"

"Now saddle your grey horse, Ligo, Ligo!

Ride round our fields your course, Ligo!"

"Sow seeds of gra.s.s and grain, Ligo, Ligo, Fine barley grow again, Ligo!"

"For meadow gra.s.s we pray, Ligo, Ligo, Our heifers give fine hay, Ligo!"

"Let hay our heifers eat, Ligo, Ligo, Our colts feed oats grown sweet, Ligo!"

"Make all the flowers grow, Ligo, Ligo, That on our hillsides blow, Ligo!"

"Let maidens braid their hair, Ligo, Ligo, With wreaths of flowers fair, Ligo!"

"Give young men on all sides, Ligo, Ligo, Hardworking beauteous brides, Ligo!"

"To all our daughters yield, Ligo, Ligo, Strong men to till the field, Ligo!"

"Come to our farmyards near, Ligo, Ligo, Your children visit here, Ligo!"

"Guard us from evil's spell, Ligo, Ligo, That we may love you well, Ligo, Ligo, And of you we may tell, Ligo!"

The ancestors' spirits call the people to live in harmony

While rich the sound of song rose high Across the vale and woodland's tops, The shadows of their sires gone by Appeared within the sacred copse.

Beneath the leafy oaks once more, To guard the people's soul they sped.- The priests these heroes pa.s.sing saw, And reverent covered each his head.

The eldest of the priests then spoke, The teachings of their fathers told: In harmony and peace the folk Each to the other ought to hold; To give their brethren help and aid, When they were caught in suffering's grip.- Then soon both old and young obeyed, And all joined hands in fellows.h.i.+p.

They promised friends.h.i.+p through the land, And those in strife with fellow men Went to them, offered warm their hand, And lovingly sought peace again.

There in the grove upon the hill, Close to the G.o.ds come face to face, The folk could settle every ill, Blessed by the spirits' saving grace.

In groups there seated on the gra.s.s, The fathers and their wives agreed Within their family gifts to pa.s.s, While jugs and horns, filled up with mead, Pa.s.sed all along from row to row, And each one drank a healthy pull.

Then bread and cheese pa.s.sed to and fro, And all was tasted to the full.

They ate and drank, discussed the year: Men had with workmates much to say, And women saw, again drawn near, Clan sisters come from far away.

And even greybeards friends could spy, Their childhood comrades there could find, Companions from the days gone by, The age of youth, now left behind.

Midsummer's Eve best pleased the young; Their songs through wood and valley rang.

The lads in crowds to love gave tongue, Hot-blooded songs of pa.s.sion sang.

The la.s.ses answered, love denied- But in each maid was clear the case, The time she scarcely could abide, Until her love she would embrace.

Now closer pushed the youths in rows, Close to the maidens to advance, Until each found the one he chose, And hand in hand they joined the dance.

Scene 2: The struggle begins

The Lord of Lielvarde brings terrible news

Beneath the oak trees on the hill, That by the sacred grove near stood, The priests and chieftains talked their fill Of war and peace, things bad and good.- The runic scriptures in the grove Showed grim portents that warning gave.

To know their fate the leaders strove; Their faces and their talk were grave.

Old Burtnieks was plain in view With Aizkrauklis, and though delayed, The Lielvarde Lord came too, And soon a speech the old man made.

He warmly uttered greetings strong, As old companions welcomed him, Then took his place before the throng, And told them there his tidings grim:

"You Chieftains gathered on this hill, Do not yet know the fate that looms, The threat that all with fear must fill, And Latvia's folk to serfdom dooms.- Near Daugava's mouth, as well you know, Upon the river's bank arrayed, The Livians let the Strangers go, And settle there to work and trade."

"But later they were joined by more, By men in armour iron-clad, Who with the spring came by the score, And works have done that we forbade.

They now control the river lands: At Ikskile a castle-work, At Salaspils a fortress stands.- In these like beasts the plunderers lurk."

"Like cunning foxes first they sought With everyone to be a friend; Like ravenous wolves then victims caught, All prey devoured, right to the end.

The Livian lands are now laid waste, Each village plundered, burned in spite; The men and women slaughter faced, Who stood against the Strangers' might."

"Survivors even lose their soul, Compelled a foreign faith to take.

And clear we see now that their goal Is conquest of our folk to make.

They seek to break the people's pride, Upon them serfdom's yoke to place, Among themselves then to divide All lands within the Baltic s.p.a.ce."

"Upon a day now pa.s.sed not long, The people made report to me Of foreign soldiers armoured strong To Leilvarde riding free.

Still full of hope, great haste I made, And armed my people straight away.

We stood behind our palisade, Drawn up to face them in the fray."

"I asked them plainly why they came.

A mighty knight then forward went, And said that Daniel was his name, By Riga's Bishop he was sent To seize all Lielvarde's s.p.a.ce.

But if I wished he would allow That I might live there by his grace- In my own home a va.s.sal now!"

"His own stone castle he would build, That for himself to raise he planned, And hostages to take he willed, From every village in my land.