CANTO I THE REVELATION OF BEARSLAYER Scene 1: The Council of the Baltic gods The gods gather In azure vaults of heaven soaring bright, In lofty castles filled with endless joy, The God of Thunder, Perkons, dwells in light, And pleasure knows whose sweetness cannot cloy. The Baltic gods in council gathered there, Of Destiny's Father tidings to debate. His will decides the hues-both dark and fair- And sets the fickle course of mortal fate. The steeds of Perkons saddled in the court, With trappings glowing waited in the morn; The sun's first rays a dazzling glitter brought, As polished harness glinted in the dawn. And Patrimps, God of Plenty, held in yokes His beeswax-yellow steeds with flowing manes; Of golden stalks his wingèd chariot's spokes- Its course ensures the timely suns and rains. Dread Pakols, God of Death, had horses black, Yoked closely to his sledge of human bones; Of ribs the runners, driver's seat and back, Shinbones as shafts, arrayed in sombre tones. While Antrimps, of the Sea, had steeds all scaled, And chariot swift of reeds of ocean green. Of shells whose beauty yet was still unpaled Its supple seat was formed, as could be seen. And Liga fair, the Goddess of sweet Song, In flower-decked chariot seated high in state, By swiftest horses queen-like drawn along, With Puškaitis passed through the Rainbow Gate. The Gods' proud Sons, all mounted brave and bold, On fiery steeds into the courtyard rode. Their saddles shone, their bridles gleamed with gold, With diamond bits their snorting horses glowed. Soon Austra, Morning Goddess, came in haste, And Laima too, the greatest Goddess there, While Tikla, Virtue's Goddess stern and chaste, Thence travelled fast, bedecked with roses fair. Last, drawn by prancing stallions swift and strong, Up came the beauteous Daughters of the Sun. Firm holding golden reins they dashed along; A flower-strewn course their chariots thence had run. And Destiny's Father, grizzled deathless might, Was seated high upon the Diamond Throne, With Perkons there and Patrimps on the right, While Pakols stern and Antrimps stood alone. Close, Puškaitis and Liga both were near, Then of the Gods the Sons, arrayed as one. With Austra, Laima, Tikla standing clear, And last, the beauteous Daughters of the Sun. Behind, a host of lesser godlings stood, Who to the Council with the rest had come, Because all Baltic spirits fair and good With earnest presence added to the sum. The grim tidings Then Destiny's Father, grizzled deathless might, Arose up lordly from his sacred throne- In godly throng yet still a noble sight, This warning message spoke in sombre tone: "To life a new eternal light was born! On Earth there walked a wondrous form sublime. A mighty spirit now was come to warn, And bless the Earth in His appointed time."