3 Budrysy

Salve, a little poetry today, but first about some unpleasant things  i.e., politics. I am very sceptical (or even hostile) about  the present day politics of Lithuania towards my Polish brethren in that country. I appears  this is not only mine sentiment as evidenced by this article. During the last war the Lithuanians joined first with the Soviet in their aggression against Poland in 1939, and then when the Soviets occupied Lithuanian supported the Germans, actively participating in Holocaust against the Jews and Poles alike.  Vilnius was taken from Poland by the Yalta Conference (thanks Mr, Roosevelt) Note that Vilnius was the 6th largest Polish city (3rd was Lviv) in Poland in 1939, nowadays is a capital of Lithuanian-EU. Nowadays Belarus occupies most of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania's territory, and also has a very large Polish minority, sharing with us common history and culture. Ad rem, I do like this Adam Mickiewicz's poem about these ancient, pagan 'bohaterowie' (baghatur), valiant warriors or knights, who set out  from their forests in search of glory, plunder and captives. It is set during the historical period of the Grand Duchy of Lithuanian expansion (towards the Ruthenian principalities of the former Kievan Rus), when Masovian Duchy and Polish Kingdom suffered yearly 'razzias' and rapine inflicted on us by these pagan Lithuanians. Famously fatefull marriage of King of Polish Kingdom (rex) Saint Jadwiga and grand prince Jogailla (known since then by his Christian name as Władysław Jagiełło) ended these border conflicts... until 1919 or so. But that is another story. Nota bene, our Polish word 'budrys' is a teasing synonym for a Samogitian or Lithuanian . THE THREE BROTHERS BUDRYS Doughty Budrys the old, Lithuanian bold, He has summoned his lusty sons three. "Your chargers stand idle, now saddle and bridle And out with your broadswords," quoth he. "For with trumpets' loud braying in Wilno they're saying That our armies set forth to three goals; Gallant Olgierd[1] takes Russia and Kiejstut[2] takes Prussia And Skirgiell[3] - our neighbours the Poles, "Stout of heart and of hand, go, fight for your land With the gods of your fathers to guide you; Though I mount not this year, yet my rede ye shall hear: Ye are three and three roads ye shall ride you. "By Lake Ilmen's broad shores where fair Novgorod lowers One shall follow 'neath Olgierd's device: There are sables' black tails there are silvery veils, There are coins shining brightly like ice, "With Kiejstut's hordes ample the next son shall trample That dog's breed, the Knights of the Cross; There he amber thick-strown, vestments diamond-sown, And brocades al a marvellous gloss, "In the barren, stripped land beyond Niemen's wide strand Where goes Skirgiell, the third son shall ride; Only buckler and sword will he get as reward, But from there he shall bring him his bride. "For 'tis Poland the world over that's the land lor a lover: All the maids are like kittens at play; Faces whiter than milk, lashes soft as black silk, And their eyes - like the star-shine are they! Fifty years are now sped and my bride is long dead, The bright Pole I brought home from a raid: And yet still when I stand and gaze out toward that land, I remember the face of that maid." So he ends and they turn, he has blessed them their journey: They've armed them, they've mounted and fled: Fall and winter both pass, never word comes, alas, And old Budrys had thought his sons dead. Through the high-piling drift comes a youth riding swift, 'Neath his mantle rich booty doth hide: "Ah, a Novgorod kettle full of silver-bright metal!" - "Nay, my father, a Polish bride!" Through the high-piling drift comes a youth riding swill, 'Neath his mantle rich booty doth hide: "Ah, amber, my son, in the German land won'" - "Nay, my father, a Polish bride!" Through the high-piling drift rides the third. Ah, his gift, 'Tis the pride of the west and the east! But while yet it is hidden, old Budrys has bidden His guests to the third wedding feast.  These are the Belarusian and Russian translations [1] [2] [3] Ps although the painting by Victor Vasnetsov above purports to show three Russian warrior heroes or bogatyrs or vityaz, it nicely fits the image I always had for these horsemen. Watercolor by Juliusz Kossak showing a budrys with his captive.