Bearslayer: Canto II - Bearslayer is sent out into the world (Scene 2) - Andrejs Pumpurs

He is given the task of learning

"I give you now a colt with saddle fine,

Trim steed and sword of heavy metal true,

A spear, a shield and silver spurs once mine,

And headdress trimmed with fur of martens too.

Upon the morrow you will haste away

To Burtnieks's famous castle gate,

Where dwells my friend of happy boyhood day-

In Burtnieks's Castle lies your fate."

"Both greet and hail, and tell him you aspire

To learn in famous Burtnieks's school,

Sent by your father knowledge to acquire,

Where virtue true and cunning wisdom rule.

Old Burtnieks will take you as a friend,

And in his ancient castle clear will show

The chests where sacred tomes the ages spend,

That secrets deep of Destiny's purpose know."

"These sacred books our lofty morals teach,

And tell about the history of our land,

Explain the gods, and faith and duty preach,

And sing about the Latvian hero band.

Of all this sacred knowledge, and much more,

There learn as seven seasons passing go;

How heroes bold acquit themselves in war,

When they in battle strive against the foe."

He departs from Lielvarde

Next morning, fitted richly as a lord,

Bearslayer stood at Lielvarde's gate.

He buckled on his massive trusty sword,

Took up his spear and shield and felt their weight.

He placed his fur-trimmed cap upon his head

And, standing there before his father dear,

Made sad farewell, although no tear was shed.-

Though brief and stern, the parting was sincere.

The old man spoke of Lielvarde's fame:

"Our ancient clan throughout the folk is known;

No shameful stain attaches to our name,

Our fathers past their heroes' worth have shown.

And you, my son Bearslayer, at your birth,

By Destiny's will were marked for honour too;

If you pursue his plan and show your worth,

The gods will guard you well and cherish you."

"The world's seductions young men's minds soon reach,

While youths, unwitting, oft themselves deceive,

So hasten not to do what others teach,

But let them seek your counsel to receive.

To recognize the truth is passing rare,

To speak it plain unvarnished harder still;

In life who learns true witness brave to bear

Becomes attuned to virtue's righteous will."

"Maintain in struggles stout your people's way,

Your grandsires' teachings always give respect;

And never heed what hypocrites may say,

Who urge you freedom's spirit to neglect.

Such people for themselves good fortune seek,

In finding victims God's name oft employ,

But later with the Devil's poison reek;

They serve but evil and-at length-destroy."

"The Latvian people on their own fair shore

Do not bow down to lords high-born as sage;

They choose themselves their chiefs in time of war-

The magistrates in older, peaceful age.

The people know of those who earned great fame

By toiling hard in mighty labours long;

To these come lasting praise and honoured name,

As heroes known they live in endless song."

With earnest soul Bearslayer heard his lord,

The heartfelt words of life's wise teachings large.

Into his breast an urgent feeling poured,

The wish that he fulfil his father's charge.

And so he promised to observe all that,

Embraced his father, pressed his hand so stout,

Then leaped into his saddle, doffed his hat,

And, raising shield and lance, rode boldly out.

---

Andrejs Pumpurs (1841 - 1902) Latvia

Translated by  Arthur Cropley

Source: BEARSLAYER  by Andrejs Pumpurs (1841-1902) A free translation from the unrhymed Latvian into English heroic verse by Arthur Cropley, University of Hamburg, 2005 [Project Gutenburg]

Ⓒ Arthur Cropley

Canto 2 Scene 1 can be found here

Canto 2 Scene 3 - coming soon

Summary

The youth is not the true son of the Lord of Lielvarde, but a foundling suckled by a female bear in the forest. (Although it is not directly explained until almost the end of the poem, it is important to know that Bearslayer has bear's ears, and that if these are cut off he will lose his bearlike strength.) Bearslayer was brought to Lielvarde as a baby by Vaidelots, a Messenger of the Gods, to be raised until he reached manhood. After killing the bear he is sent to study for seven years in the Castle of Burtnieks, in order to learn the ancient wisdom of the Latvian race. Accompanied by the good advice of his foster father, he sets off.