Perhaps the demon brothers' men Might still be there, he could not tell.- He rested several days and then, Bearslayer searched the island well. SCENE 2: Bearslayer meets Spidala again Bearslayer captures Spidala Once through the forest's gloomy bound They reached a pleasant valley's floor, A cooling well within it found, Near which a tree sweet apples bore. The sailors hastened without thought, There at the well to slake their thirst, But stern Bearslayer caution taught, Forbidding them to drink at first. Deep in the water with his sword, Triangular, a mark he slashed.- Where just before clear water poured, Not water now but blood there splashed! At first, loud wailing cries were heard, But soon again deep silence reigned, And in the water nothing stirred; As clear as amber it remained. At this, he said they might drink free, No harm would suffer, this he knew. They drank, then hurried to the tree, Where near the well the apples grew. They sought as one the fruit to eat, But loud Bearslayer gave a yell- To seek here apples was not meet- And raised his sword, the tree to fell. Just at this moment from the tree A frightened voice begged: "Harm me not!" Alarmed Bearslayer jumped back free, And in that moment, on the spot, The tree became a maiden fair. He looked at her, was sore amazed, With feelings he could scarcely bear- At Spidala his eyes now gazed! Before his feet, herself she threw, And for her life began to plead: She would reveal great secrets true, And make good every wicked deed, No evil more do all her days.- Bearslayer gave to her her life: Foul fiends and giant foes he slays, But with weak women seeks no strife. Then Spidala confessed to him Her every evil deed and ploy, Through which, with Kangars plotting grim, Bearslayer bold they would destroy; How forth Laimdota they could lure, And tricked his friend, Koknesis, too, And that both friend and sweetheart pure In faithfulness to him were true! The ancient witch, whom once before He saw within the Devil's Pit, Upon the pleasant island's shore A spell had placed, her plans to fit. And all the ships this spell there drew Upon the beach were helpless thrown; She then bewitched the sailors too, And every one was turned to stone. The fiends Bearslayer there had killed Were her three sons, foul demon beasts.- The palace at the bridge she filled With sumptuous meals to give them feasts. But as time passed they wished to taste The flesh of human beings sweet; Stone sailors she revived in haste, And gave them to her sons to eat. Her sons' defeat she could not brook; A fearsome anger now burst free, Then of the well the form she took, Made Spidala the apple tree. If they had drunk deep from the well, Before Bearslayer thrust his sword, She would have cast a deadly spell, That painful death would all afford.