VIESTARDS FIGHT AT MEŽOTNE 1219

The messenger hastens to Tērvete now
Has brought a bad message for Viestards:
"The monks and crusaders are sitting in Mežotne castle mound
And turning the Semigalls' thoughts to the Christian faith"

Then Viestards snatches at his sword, his heart now burns with rage:
"If guests have arrived, they shall be met with a good reception.

Let all the men from Semigallia gather here
And bring the axes and swords with them
We promise to our Gods, if they'll give us good luck
Those heads we'll cut off at Mežotne!"

Thunder god Pērkons now roars at horizon enraged
You, foreigner, better make off from this land!

And early in morning the army of Semigalls arrived at Mežotne
All they long they were fighting against the crusaders
Yet there's no good fortune for Viestards today
His nephew already is killed at the field...

But meanwhile at ships along the Lielupe river
The helpmates are sailing for Christians fast
When Semigalls got it to know
They rushed to meet them full of rage

On the shallow place of the river
They attacked the ships at once
And everyone who was inside there
Was cut to the ground without mercy

Seeing that, the monks who were hiding in Mežotne castle mound
Made haste to pray for their God
And at the last hour of twilight
They all made off from the Semigallian land

The wolves are howling at their heels
Black night covers the forests in dark
This is the Semigalls' reception for those
Who arrive here as guests uninvited.