This first story I’ve find to be some kind of introduction to the whole work. Because of some phrases and words that we managed to understand, we’ve reached the conclusion that the lyrical speaker is a bard, called Bardus Barbatus. He presents the topic of the whole work: a dramatic invasion to a formerly prosperous kingdom called Ancia by some kind of villain or shadow, and the fates of Ancia’s king, a knight, the townsfolk, etc.

This story talks about some kind of mystic vision that came to a famous hermit. The vision, we assume, is some kind of premonition of what was about to come to the kingdom. But, naturally, the people would not listen and would not prepare as he warned.

In this story, we are told of the actual invasion to the city and the castle. Some kind of wizard or shadow fights the king and, ultimately, wins. The king is turned into a tree and planted in the middle of a forest so he cannot be found.

This one tells that the tree, after being planted in the forest, starts to weep (hence the origin of the weeping willow?). We are told that he weeps not because he lost his kingdom, his family, or even his humanity: He weeps because of his people, that now will be without a head, without a purpose and without the unifying principle they have had for ages.

This one is a prayer the knight directs to God. It’s in full latin so it was easier to translate. He asks God why did he allowed the bad ones to take over and destroy everything they had built. He asks if they have to go through this test to be able to appreciate him once again. He also asks for help to get rid of the bad ones who exploit them. He also asks for the return of the true ruler.

This story is about the knight fighting against Burmuth, while the wizard tries to convince him of the futiliy of his fight. He tells the knight that there is no point in fighting against this new age: that now the poeple will be free from the tyranny of the king.

In this, the knight doubts but decides to give his life fighting in loyalty to the king, with a deep anguish from not being sure if it is the right thing to do. He is unsuccessful though, and dies with a deep anguish of not being sure if he gave his life for the right cause.

This story seems to be about the wizard becoming the new ruler of the kingdom, liberating shadows all over the realm.

This story is about a peasant woman that mourns the loss of her customs and way of life. She seems to nostalgically mour bucolic scenes from her life, especially some trees she will deeply regret having to leave. She also remembers her deceased parents and grandparents, and the futility of all the fruits of their respective lives.

This story describes the dance and laughs of the triumphant shadows around the townsfolk that are making penance and praying for a saintly knight to come and save them.

This final story is a kind of outro. The bearded bard says he is confused because now the people of the former kingdom have grown accustomed to living in the shadows and have forgotten that they were expecting the return of their king. That everyone there knows that something is deeply wrong and must be changed, but have forgotten exactly what. But in their souls they still wait.

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