s though from the tombs of the Grand-Masters, a
three-fold calling: "Vinrice, ordo laborat."

(7) _"__A fire eternal burns in Swentorog's halls.__"_

The castle of Wilna, where formerly was maintained the Znicz; that is, an
ever-burning fire.

(8) _"__The place was Witold's.__"_

[Witold, the son of Kiejstut, after rising over the heads of the other
Lithuanian princes to the sovereignty of the whole country, was ultimately
dispossessed by his cousin Jagellon, founder of the Jagellon dynasty,
which reigned over Poland and Lithuania from 1386 to 1572.]

(9) _Song of the Wajdelote._

The Wajdelotes, Sigonoci, Lingustoni were priests whose office was to
relate or sing to the people the acts of their forefathers at all
festivals. That the old Lithuanians and Prussians loved and cultivated
poetry is proved by the enormous number of ancient songs, still remaining
among the common people, and by the testimony of chroniclers. We read that
during a grand festival on the occasion of the election of the
Grand-Master Winrych von Kniprode, a German Minnesinger, being honoured
with applause and a gold cup, a Prussian named Rizelus, was so encouraged
by this good reception of a poet, that he entreated for permission to sing
in his native Lithuanian tongue, and celebrated the deeds of the first
king of the Litwini, Wajdewut. The Grand-Master and the knights, not
understanding and disliking the Lithuanian speech, ridiculed the poet, and
gave him a present of a plate of empty nutshells. In Prussia the Crusaders
forbade officials and all who approached the court to use the Lithuanian
tongue, under penalty of death; they banished from the country, together
with the Jews and gipsies, the Wajdelotes, or Lithuanian bards, who alone
knew and could relate the national annals. Again in Lithuania, after the
introduction of the Christian faith and the Polish language, the ancient
priests and the native speech fell into disrepute, and were forgotten;
thence the common people, changed to serfs, and attached to the soil,
having abandoned the sword, also forgot those chivalric songs. Still
something has remained of their ancient annals and heroic verse, long
joined with superstition, communicated in secret to the people. Simon
Grunau, in the sixteenth century, came by accident on the Prussians at a
solemnity, and with difficulty saved his life, on promising the peasants,
that he never would reveal to any one what he should see or hear; then,
afte