In the days when trees could cry and cats could fly there lived in
Poland, underneath Wawel Hill, beside the Vistula River, a terrible
dragon called Smok Wawelski.
First, Smok stole their cats and dogs. Next, he ate their sheep and
cows. In the end, Smok paid his attention to grabbing young
maidens!
Soon it was the turn of the King’s daughter to be fed to the dragon.
In desperation, he offered his daughter’s hand in marriage to
anyone who could rid the city of this terrible beast.
Princes came and Princes went. Some ran as soon as they
clapped sight on Smok. Others ventured under the city and were
never seen again. In the end, a cobbler called Krak came to the
city.
“You’ll never defeat the dragon,” said the King, noticing that the
cobbler had no sword.
“Do not worry,” replied Krak, “I will give him a meal that he will not
forget in a hurry!”
First, Krak took a leathery cow’s skin. Next, he stuffed it full of the
hottest herbs and spices with a bag full of sulphur! After that, he
sewed the skin together to make it look like a dead cow.
Finally, Krak threw the mighty meal down into Smok’s lair calling,
“Dinner time, my beauty!”
The dragon ate it up in one gulp. First, he felt a burning pain. Then
his stomach roared like fire. Finally, the dragon flew to the river
Vistula where he drank and he drank and he drank till the river was
almost dry. The more he drank, the more his stomach swelled. It
swelled and it swelled and it swelled till in the end it burst with a
huge bang.
So it was that the cobbler married the princess and became King
Krak. Why he was so popular - that they named the city after him –
Krakow.
Poland, underneath Wawel Hill, beside the Vistula River, a terrible
dragon called Smok Wawelski.
First, Smok stole their cats and dogs. Next, he ate their sheep and
cows. In the end, Smok paid his attention to grabbing young
maidens!
Soon it was the turn of the King’s daughter to be fed to the dragon.
In desperation, he offered his daughter’s hand in marriage to
anyone who could rid the city of this terrible beast.
Princes came and Princes went. Some ran as soon as they
clapped sight on Smok. Others ventured under the city and were
never seen again. In the end, a cobbler called Krak came to the
city.
“You’ll never defeat the dragon,” said the King, noticing that the
cobbler had no sword.
“Do not worry,” replied Krak, “I will give him a meal that he will not
forget in a hurry!”
First, Krak took a leathery cow’s skin. Next, he stuffed it full of the
hottest herbs and spices with a bag full of sulphur! After that, he
sewed the skin together to make it look like a dead cow.
Finally, Krak threw the mighty meal down into Smok’s lair calling,
“Dinner time, my beauty!”
The dragon ate it up in one gulp. First, he felt a burning pain. Then
his stomach roared like fire. Finally, the dragon flew to the river
Vistula where he drank and he drank and he drank till the river was
almost dry. The more he drank, the more his stomach swelled. It
swelled and it swelled and it swelled till in the end it burst with a
huge bang.
So it was that the cobbler married the princess and became King
Krak. Why he was so popular - that they named the city after him –
Krakow.
