Introduction
Come and listen to legends of old times. Listen the legend of our forefather, our ancestor as they came to the areas of our country and settled along the rivers of Labe, Vltava and others.
Listen to what has remained from the dark times, what was left from mythical tales of previous generations, who bowed to the gods in twilight of ancient groves and who sacrificed to the springs in quiet ravines, to the lakes, rivers even to the sacred live fire.
Reflect on the first years of our country, what was its face before our brood set foot here.
There were no towns and only a few villages in remote areas, with only a few reminders of previous inhabitants, who spoke foreign languages. Almost all the soil rested, not being touched by plough. Everything was wild and forsaken, the plains, mountains and valleys. Vast ancient black forests covered mountains and ridges and spread deep inland. Even inland were deep dark woods, mixed with bright green lash meadows with dense high grass waving in the wind. There were many swamps with dangerous trembling ground, filled with cries of water birds and many quiet enchanted pools, reflecting old majestic trees with enormous trunks and beard like white mosses hanging from their branches.
Human track was rare here, but game was bountiful everywhere. W ith no hunters, the animals multiplied as far as the land could support it. The bear dwelled in the black forest looking for hollow trunks with combs of honey bees, whose buzz filled the tree tops.
Wild boar poked into the moist forest soil, and fox and wild cat sneaked thru dense brush. A bob cat prowled on a branch, penetrating the darkness of the woods with his sharp eyesight, a huge bison roared in the distance seeking water pool. Deer moved thru meadows freely with a group of does, but also pack of wolves roamed forests as well as plains.
High in the sun filled air the birds of pray, including eagle, sailed over the tops of the trees.
Brooks, streams and lakes were filled with fish, otter inhabited the shades of old alders and willows covered by vines of wild hops. Beavers built their artificial dams without being disturbed.
The whisper of wind blended with voices of brooks and rivers, shiny specks of gold glittering mixed in their white sands.
The depth of the earth was still locked and nobody attempted to open it to receive treasures of oars and precious metals.
Strength and riches were everywhere, the land was ready to give its bounty to industrious people to enjoy.
And they came. Aggrandizing it with their hard work and making it sacred with their sweat and blood spilled in many battles, defending it and their language.