Šturm zamka Pulien (Pulien Castle Storming)
The song tells about the unique event in the history of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania – the heroic defense of the Pulien Castle back in 1336 against the Teutonic Order. Attacked by a large Teutonic force, the fortress, commanded by Duke Marger, tried in vain to organize a defense against the larger and stronger invader. Losing hope, the defenders decided to burn their property and commit mass suicide. They believed they would better die and lose everything, rather than to be captured and live as slaves and give their children to the enemy.
The source that describes the events in greater detail is the Chronica nova Prutenica (New Prussian Chronicle) of Wigand of Marburg, who was a German herald of the Teutonic Knights in Prussia and one of the notable chroniclers of the Middle Ages. But Wigand's original German text has not survived. His work is known from a Latin translation commissioned by Polish chronicler and historian Jan Długosz in 1464. Different sources mention different names of the castle: Pilenai, Pillenen, Punia.
Lyrics by Zmicier Sasnouski, music - Stary Olsa.
Lyrics translation into English: Alena Martsyanava and Olesia Fedarovich.
Kryžanoscaŭ atrad uvarvaŭ,
Zamak Pulien staĺnymi kliaščami
U ablohu smiarotnuju ŭziaŭ.
Na čornych kryžach liutasć i žach,
Liudzi ŭ zamak imkliva biahuć,
Starych i malych, dzietak usich
U fartecyju maci niasuć.
Tam kiruje mahutny vajar
Kniaź Marhier i dzvie tysiačy vojaŭ
Adbivajuć biaskoncy pažar.
I tysiačy raz miačom rubić kniaź
Kalia bramy, na viežach, scianach,
Adkidvaje šturm, bjecca jak tur,
Alie mienieje moc u rukach.
Pralamili vializny prahal,
Kniechty lomiacca, brazhajuć laty,
Tam litvinavych trupaŭ zaval.
Da rabstva isci nie pa žycci,
Skarb litviny pačali palić,
Dziadoŭ i kabiet, dzietak uslied
I siabie vyrašajuć zabić.
Niemcy ŭ Pulien zajšli niežyvy,
Nie čakali zachopu takoha,
Zamak miortvy stajaŭ nazaŭždy.
Litviny spradviek jak strašny hrech
Nie prymali raboŭ nizki lios,
Kab hańby nie mieć u honary smierć
Biez sumnivaŭ, pakut i biez slioz.
The Teuton forces surrounded Pulien Castle,
Grabbing it in their steel claws,
In the deathly siege.
Terror and horror on their crosses,
People rush to the castle,
Mothers carry the old and the young
Into the safety of the fortress.
The Litvins are defending the castle,
Lead by their mighty warrior
Duke Marhier and two thousand men
Keeping the endless fire away.
By the gates, on towers and walls,
He fights like an aurochs
But the strength in his arms fades.
Slavery has never been their way
So they burn down their treasures,
And then the old, the women, the children,
As not to disgrace oneself, the death was their pride,
Without doubt, suffering and tears.
