Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Saint George and the Dragon



Saint George was a knight and was born in Cappadocia. One time he came to the city of Silene in the province of Libya. Near this city was a pond (estanque) where there was a dragon which was poisoning (envenenando) all the country. Whenever he approached (acercaba) the city he poisoned the people with his breath (aliento), and therefore the people of the city gave to him every day two sheep to eat, so that he would do no harm (daño) to the people. When they ran out of sheep, he was given a man and a sheep. Then an ordinance (ordenanza) was made that the children and young people of the town should be chosen by lottery to feed (alimentar) the dragon. Whoever the lot fell upon, wealthy or poor, he or she was delivered (entregado) to the dragon.
 This continued until the king's daughter was selected. The king tried to bargain (negociar) his way out of it, but the townspeople were adamant (firmes) that she should be delivered to the dragon just as many of their children had been. Then did the king embraced (abrazó) her, kissed her and gave her his benediction, and after, led her to the place where the dragon was.
George, who was passing, asked the lady what was happening. She told him about the dragon and begged (suplicó) him to leave before it appeared because the dragon would kill him too.

 
Then said S. George:
Fair daughter, doubt ye no thing hereof for I shall help thee in the name of Jesu Christ.  She said: For God's sake, good knight, go your way, and abide not with me, for ye may not deliver me.
Thus as (mientras) they spoke together the dragon appeared and came running to them, and S. George was upon his horse, and drew out (blandió) his sword and garnished him (adornado) with the sign of the cross, and rode hardily against the dragon which came towards him, and smote him (le golpeó) with his spear (lanza) and hurt him sore and threw him to the ground. And after said to the maid:  Deliver to me your girdle (faja) and bind it (átala) about the neck of the dragon and be not afeard.(no tengas miedo)
The princess led the defeated (derrotado) dragon into the city, causing much panic and alarm until George told the people not to be afraid: "Ne doubt ye no thing, without more, believe ye in God, Jesu Christ, and do ye to be baptized (sed bautizados) and I shall slay (mataré) the dragon."

The king was baptised (bautizado), followed by all his people, whereupon (con lo cual) George killed the dragon and its body thrown (lanzado) into the fields.

The king set up a church of Our Lady and Saint George. On the site there sprang up  (brotó) "a fountain of living water, which healeth (curaba) sick people that drink thereof (que bebia de ella) ".





















No comments: