Bearslayer : $b A free translation from the unrhymed Latvian into English heroic versePumpurs, Andrejs
General
Bearslayer : $b A free translation from the unrhymed Latvian into English heroic verse
Pumpurs, Andrejs
Epic literature, Latvian -- Adaptations; Epic poetry
Saulite [Sow-lee-tu]: The Sun-Goddess, wife of the Moon. At Midsummer
she wore a headdress of red blossoms and
danced on the hilltops in silver shoes. To
honour her, at Midsummer human women wore
similar braided wreaths in their hair, and
walked through the fields singing songs to her-
see "Ligo".
Sereniete [(Se-re-nee-e-te]: A witch, who assisted Spidala to throw Bear-
slayer down into the whirlpool of Staburags.
Six-Headed Demon: A son of the Old Witch. He lived on the
Enchanted Isle and was killed by Bearslayer.
Spidala [Spee-du-lu]: The beautiful daughter of Aizkrauklis. She
was a witch who had entered into a pact with
the Devil, but escaped with Bearslayer's help.
Staburadze [Stu-boo-rud-zu]: A goddess who lives in a Crystal Palace
beneath the whirlpool of Staburags.
Staburadze's glass: A mirror given to Bearslayer by the Goddess
Staburadze. Evildoers who look into it see
the face of Perkons, and are frozen with terror.
Staburadze's maidens: Beautiful and especially virtuous young women,
who live for a time with Staburadze to be
educated.
Staburags [Stu-boo-rugs]: A high cliff above the River Daugava with a
whirlpool at its foot.
Strangers The German knights sent to christianize
Latvia , especially those sent by Innocent III
under the leadership of Albert.
Talvaldis [Tarl-vull-diss]: A Latvian leader; second-in-command to
Bearslayer (although hardly mentioned
in the poem).
Three-Headed Demon: A son of the Old Witch. He lived on the
Enchanted Isle and was killed by Bearslayer.
Tikla [Tick-lu]: The Goddess of Virtue.
Turaida [Too-rye-du]: A Latvian stronghold on the River Gauja NE
of Riga, where Kaupa was the Latvian Lord;
across the river from Dabrels's stockade.
Uzin [Oo-zinysh]: The God ("patron saint") of Bees (and Horses).
Vaidelots [Vye-de-lwots]: The Messenger of the Gods, who brings news
from them (from Romove) to mortals.
Viduveds [Vid-oo-vads]: A man of legendary wisdom, who lived in the
sixth century; also known in Prussian legends.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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