At first by fog concealed, An island came in sight, Whose beauty when revealed Filled all with great delight. Upon Bearslayer dawned, That this the coast must be, Of which the Maiden warned, That draws ships from the sea.- In vain to flee they sought; The coast neared more and more, Until, by magic caught, They grounded on the shore! CANTO V THE JOURNEY TO THE HOMELAND Scene 1: Bearslayer is victorious on the Enchanted Isle They go ashore on the Enchanted Isle Though Spidala revenge had gained And borne Bearslayer's love away, Within her heart deep hate remained; More evil yet she sought to pay! So with the crone she northward flew, Set storms and tempests bursting free, To plague Bearslayer and his crew Upon the unknown Northern Sea. That every man had died is sure, Had North Wind's Daughter not shown guile.- Now further trials they would endure, Upon the strange Enchanted Isle. Recovered from their early fear, A host of captured ships they saw, All drawn in there throughout the year, Upon the island's lonely shore. The ships all lay as though pinned fast, The sea waves crashing all around; Their crewmen frozen round the mast, Stood still as stones and made no sound. Of signs of life the isle was free, Although a path led from a wood, Across a bridge into the sea, And at its end a palace stood. Bearslayer and his crew of men, Crossed on the bridge, went through the door; But even there no sign again Of any living creature saw. That someone lived there, this they knew: On tables food and drink were spread, And in another room in view Stood ready made for each a bed.- Not long the sailors chose to wait, But soon the feasting was begun. They later did not hesitate Into his bed then climbed each one. Bearslayer warned, it was not good, And they would risk their lives this way, Unless someone as sentry stood, To keep them safe until the day. At this, Bearslayer they beseeched Himself that night to stand on guard, Their weariness the point had reached, To watch all night would be too hard. Bearslayer fights the many-headed demons He armed himself and went outside, Upon the bridge the watch to stand, But for a time no-one he spied, A deathly silence filled the land. Then as time's passage midnight brought, A rider came along the track, But at the bridge his horse stopped short; It baulked and tried to gallop back. At this, the rider's anger grew. He shouted in the horse's ear: "What groundless fear is troubling you? No enemy awaits us here. Bearslayer bold, my greatest foe, Is lost upon the Northern Sea. He is too young the course to know, Or come so far to challenge me." On hearing this Bearslayer swore: "You err, you hell-hound, doubt my power; I have indeed come to this shore, And stand before you at this hour!"- A frightful demon with three heads, The rider answered full of spite: "If truly here a hero treads, Then prove your strength and with me fight!"