o the bridge. He was at once assailed with a shower of
arrows, and was then attacked with spear and battleaxe; but he stood
like a wall of iron, and scattered his enemies, though fresh hosts
continually advanced against him. At length he fought his way through
all the hostile troops, and Sarvik was in despair, and did his utmost to
block the paths and to fortify himself against the imminent danger.

When the Kalevide reached the bridge, he rested for a moment to look
round, and then casting the bodies of his enemies into the river as he
advanced, his steps thundered across the bridge, and he soon reached the
fortifications. Three strokes of his fist sufficed to burst in the
gates, and he trod down all impediments and forced his way into the
enclosure. When he came to the inner door, he beat and kicked it down,
and it fell in fragments, door, door-posts, bolts, and bars, all
battered to pieces. In the hall he found a shade resembling his mother
Linda spinning. At her right hand was a cup of the water of strength,
and at her left a cup of the water of weakness. Without speaking, she
offered her son the cup with the water of strength, which he drank, and
then lifting a huge rock broke his way into the inner hall, where
Sarvik's old mother was sitting spinning. She knew, and tried to beg the
bell, but the Kalevide put her off, and inquired if Sarvik was at home.
She answered that he left home the day before yesterday, and would not
return for two or three days; but if the hero liked to wait for him, he
should be received as a guest; but first he must taste her mead. He knew
that she would give him the water of weakness, and declined, but looked
about till he saw a secret door in a recess in the wall, and was about
to break it open, when it flew open of itself with a tremendous noise,
and a host of armed warriors rushed out. He repulsed them all, and then
Sarvik himself cried out to him, reproaching him with all the wrongs he
had suffered at his hands, and the numerous thefts he had committed. In
reply the Kalevide reproached Sarvik with his own tricks; but
nevertheless he sheathed his sword and put the bell in his pocket.

Then Sarvik came forth from his hiding-place pale and trembling, and
wishing to recover himself a little by a potion, mistook the cups in his
confusion, and drank the water of weakness, while the Kalevide took
another draught of the water of strength.

CANTO XIX

THE LAST FEAST OF THE HEROES