The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

POLISH DRAGON LEGEND

A LONG TIME AGO IN POLAND THERE WAS A TERRIBLE DRAGON, AND
EVERY MONTH HE FORCED THE PEOPLE TO BRING HIM A YOUNG GIRL TO
EAT. THE PEOPLE WERE VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS AND SO THEY WENT TO THEIR
KING KRAKUS AND ASKED HIM TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS DRAGON. KRAKUS
THOUGHT ABOUT IT FOR A LONG TIME AND
FINALLY HE KILLED A SHEEP AND FILLED IT WITH TAR AND SULPHUR. HE
PUT THE SHEEP IN FRONT OF THE CAVE WHERE THE DRAGON LIVED AND
THE DRAGON CAME OUT AND BEGAN TO DEVOUR THE SHEEP, BUT THE TAR AND
SULPHUR BURNED TERRIBLE AND MADE HIM VERY THIRSTY. AND SO HE RAN TO
THE RIVER WISTA AND BEGAN TO DRINK, HE DRANK SO MUCH THAT HE
BECAME VERY HEAVY, FELL INTO THE WATER AND WAS DROWNED.
AND THE PEOPLE PROCLAIMED KRAKUS AS THEIR HERO, AND BUILT
A MONUMENT OUT OF EARTH IN HIS HONOR.

Submitter comment: SHE LEARNED IT FROM PAN (PAM?) NOWAK WHO TAUGHT HER POLISH

Where learned: HOME

Date learned: 00-00-1961