All sweetly singing, forth Laimdota came With other maidens through the castle gate, To greet the heroes and to mark their fame, When Burtnieks's men were saved by Fate, And homeward rode, safe from Estonia's war. With oak-leaf crowns the maidens decked each brow- Alone, Laimdota's wreath Bearslayer bore, And with this song she made a solemn vow: "The oaks still grow on Latvia's ground, With sturdy branch and jagged leaf. Still in our folk are heroes found, Who guard our land with strong belief; We deck their brows with oak-leaves round, And sing their praise and show no grief." "Sing of Bearslayer in our lore, The giant fell at his strong stroke. There in the hills the youth struck sure, To save us from Estonia's yoke. The foe destroys our land no more, No village burns nor daunts the folk." "Our brethren safe their fields will till, And brew their beer at autumn-tide. To newly-weds with joy we will In song and dance success and pride. Bearslayer's quest I shall fulfil, And be his virtuous, upright bride." With joyous heart Bearslayer heard these lines, They filled his soul with feelings deep and grave. He sought to show the maiden his designs, And with this song his answer pure he gave: "Where stout oaks grow the linden thrives- Where heroes dwell are damsels pure; The Latvian warrior proudly strives, That in our land fair maids endure. And willingly men give their lives, The Fatherland defending sure." "In guarding Latvia's maidens fair, They earn their oak-leaf crowns anew, The foemen's strokes unyielding bear. Then Laima brings their bride to view.- Oh fair Laimdota, beauty rare, I pledge to live and die for you." Moved by the youthful people's greeting song, Soon Burtnieks himself to sing began.- In warrior hearts the joyous mood was strong, And brotherhood stirred deep in every man. All bade Laimdota enter through the door, A meal awaited there the heroes bold; At Burtnieks's order there was more, For mead was served to greet them to the fold. When then Laimdota served them the drink she brought, Bearslayer found that all there pleased him dear. For in their toasts his future joy they sought, And with their words his destiny's path made clear:- The evil plot to kill the gallant boy Was by the will of all the gods made vain, And turned from grief into a larger joy, From which Bearslayer endless fame would gain. Scene 3: Bearslayer rescues the Sunken Castle Bearslayer finds his way into the Sunken Castle Time passed: One evening down Bearslayer went Into the stronghold's massive crypt alone, Where learnèd volumes safe the ages spent.- He saw, half open in the floor of stone, A trapdoor that he had not seen before. He took a lantern, wanting now to know, And looked inside where, dropping from the door, A narrow flight of steps led down below.