Iacobus de Voragine: LEGENDA AUREA

Georgius tribunus, genere Cappadocum, pervenit quadam vice in provinciam Libyae in civitatem, quae dicitur Silena. Iuxta quam civitatem erat stagnum instar maris, in quo draco pestifer latitabat, qui saepe populum contra se armatum in fugam converterat flatuque suo ad muros civitatis accedens omnes inficiebat. Quapropter compulsi cives duas oves quotidie sibi dabant, ut eius furorem sedarent, alioquin sic muros civitatis invadebat et aerem inficiebat, quod plurimi interibant.

George the tribune, of the stock of the Cappadocians, came on a certain occasion into the province of Libya to a city which is called Silena. Near that city there was a pool in the likeness of a sea, in which a pestiferous dragon was lurking, who had often turned to flight the people armed against it, and with its own breath, as it approached the walls of the city, it infected all. Wherefore, compelled, the citizens used to give it two sheep daily, that they might soothe its fury; otherwise it would so assault the walls of the city and infect the air that very many perished.

Cum ergo iam oves paene deficerent, maxime cum harum copiam habere non possent, inito consilio ovem cum adiuncto homine tribuebant. Cum igitur sorte omnium filii et filiae hominum darentur et sors neminem exciperet, et iam paene omnes filii et filiae essent consumpti, quadam vice filia regis unica sorte est deprehensa et draconi adiudicata. Tunc rex contristatus ait: "Tollite aurum et argentum et dimidium regni mei et filiam mihi dimittite, ne taliter moriatur." Cui populus cum furore respondit: "Tu, o rex, hoc edictum fecisti et nunc omnes pueri nostri mortui sunt et tu vis filiam tuam salvare!

When therefore the sheep were now almost failing, especially since they could not have a supply of them, after counsel had been entered upon they would assign a sheep with a human adjoined. Therefore, since by lot the sons and daughters of all were being given and the lot exempted no one, and now almost all the sons and daughters had been consumed, on a certain occasion the king’s only daughter was apprehended by lot and adjudicated to the dragon. Then the king, made sorrowful, said: "Take gold and silver and half my kingdom, and release my daughter to me, lest she die in such a manner." To which the people, with fury, replied: "You, O king, made this edict, and now all our children are dead, and you wish to save your daughter!"

Nisi in filia tua compleveris, quod in aliis ordinasti, succendemus te et domum tuum." Quod rex videns coepit filiam suam flere dicens: "Heu me, filia mea dulcissima, quid de te faciam? Aut quid dicam? Quando plus videbo nuptias tuas?" Et conversus ad populum dixit: "Oro, ut indutias octo dierum lugendi mihi filiam tribuatis." Quod cum populus admisisset, in fine octo dierum reversus populus est cum furore dicens: "Quare perdis populum tuum propter filiam tuam!

“Unless you fulfill in your daughter what you have ordained for the others, we will set you and your house ablaze.” Seeing this, the king began to weep over his daughter, saying: “Alas for me, my sweetest daughter, what shall I do with you? Or what shall I say? When shall I ever again see your nuptials?” And turning to the people he said: “I beg that you grant me a truce of eight days for mourning my daughter.” When the people had admitted this, at the end of eight days the people returned with fury, saying: “Why do you destroy your people on account of your daughter!”

En omnes afflatu draconis morimur." Tunc rex videns, quod non posset filiam liberare, induit eam vestibus regalibus et amplexatus eam cum lacrimis dixit: "Heu me, filia mea dulcissima, de te filios in regali gremio nutrire credebam et nunc vadis, ut a dracone devoreris. Heu me, filia mea dulcissima, sperabam ad tuas nuptias principes invitare, palatium margaritis ornare, tympana et organa audire, et nunc vadis, ut a dracone devoreris. "Et deosculans dimisit eam dicens: "Utinam, filia mea, ego ante te mortuus essem, quam te sic amisissem." Tunc illa procidit ad pedes patris petens ab eo benedictionem suam.

“Lo, we all are dying by the dragon’s breath.” Then the king, seeing that he could not free his daughter, clothed her in regal garments and, having embraced her with tears, said: “Alas for me, my sweetest daughter, of you I believed I would nurture sons upon the regal lap, and now you go to be devoured by the dragon. Alas for me, my sweetest daughter, I hoped to invite princes to your nuptials, to adorn the palace with pearls, to hear tympans and organs, and now you go to be devoured by the dragon.” And kissing her again and again, he sent her away, saying: “Would that I had died before you, my daughter, rather than have lost you thus.” Then she fell at her father’s feet, asking from him his blessing.

Quam cum pater cum lacrimis benedixisset, ad lacum processit.

When her father had blessed her with tears, she proceeded to the lake.

Quam beatus Georgius casu inde transiens ut plorantem vidit, eam, quid haberet, interrogavit. Et illa: "Bone iuvenis, velociter equum adscende et fuge, ne mecum pariter moriaris." Cui Georgius: "Noli timere, filia, sed dic mihi, quid hic praestolaris omni plebe spectante!" Et illa: "Ut video, bone iuvenis, magnifici cordis es tu, sed mecum mori desideras! Fuge velociter." Cui Georgius: "Hinc ego non discedam, donec mihi, quid habeas, intimabis." Cum ergo totum sibi exposuisset, ait Georgius: "Filia noli timere, quia in Christi nomine te iuvabo.

As blessed George by chance passing by saw her weeping, he interrogated her what she had. And she: "Good young man, quickly ascend the horse and flee, lest you die together with me." To whom George: "Do not fear, daughter, but tell me what you are waiting for here, with all the populace looking on!" And she: "As I see, good young man, you are of magnificent heart, but you desire to die with me! Flee quickly." To whom George: "From here I will not depart, until you intimate to me what you have." Therefore when she had set forth everything to him, George said: "Daughter, do not fear, because in the name of Christ I will aid you.

"Et illa: "Bone miles, sed te ipsum salvare festines, mecum non pereas. Sufficit enim, si sola peream. Nam me liberare non posses et tu mecum perires."

"And she: "Good soldier, but hasten to save yourself; do not perish with me. For it suffices if I alone perish. For you could not free me, and you would perish with me."

Dum haec loquerentur, ecce draco veniens caput de lacu levavit. Tunc puella tremefacta dixit: "Fuge, bone domine, fuge velociter." Tunc Georgius equum ascendens et cruce se muniens draconem contra se advenientem audaciter aggreditur et lanceam fortiter vibrans et se Deo commendans ipsum graviter vulneravit et ad terram deiecit dixitque puellae: "Proice zonam tuam in collum draconis nihil dubitans, filia."

While they were speaking these things, behold, a dragon coming raised its head from the lake. Then the maiden, trembling, said: "Flee, good lord, flee quickly." Then George, mounting his horse and fortifying himself with the cross, boldly attacks the dragon coming against him, and, vigorously brandishing the lance and commending himself to God, he wounded it grievously and cast it down to the ground, and said to the maiden: "Cast your girdle upon the neck of the dragon, doubting nothing, daughter."

Quod cum fecisset, sequebatur eam velut mansuetissima canis. Cum ergo eum in civitatem duceret, populi hoc videntes per montes et colles fugere coeperunt dicentes: "Vae nobis, quia iam omnes peribimus!" Tunc beatus Georgius innuit iis dicens: "Nolite timere, ad hoc enim me misit Dominus ad vos, ut a poenis vos liberarem draconis. Tantummodo in Christum credite et unusquisque vestrum baptizetur et draconem istum occidam." Tunc rex et omnes populi baptizati sunt, beatus Georgius evaginato gladio draconem occidit et ipsum extra civitatem efferri praecepit.

When she had done this, it was following her like a most tame dog. Therefore, when she was leading it into the city, the people, seeing this, began to flee over the mountains and hills, saying: "Woe to us, for now we will all perish!" Then blessed George motioned to them, saying: "Do not fear, for to this end the Lord has sent me to you, that I might liberate you from the punishments of the dragon. Only believe in Christ, and let each one of you be baptized, and I will slay this dragon." Then the king and all the people were baptized, blessed George, his sword unsheathed, slew the dragon, and ordered it to be carried outside the city.

Tunc quattuor paria boum ipsum in magnum campum foras duxerunt. Baptizati autem sunt in illa die XX milia exceptis parvulis et mulieribus. Rex autem in honorem beatae Mariae et beati Georgi ecclesiam mirae magnitudinis construxit.

Then four pairs of oxen led it out into a great field. And on that day 20 thousand were baptized, with the little children and the women excepted. Moreover, the king, in honor of Blessed Mary and Blessed George, constructed a church of wondrous magnitude.

De cuius altari fons vivus emanat, cuius potus omnes languidos sanat. Rex vero infinitam pecuniam beato Georgio obtulit, quam ille recipere nolens pauperibus eam dari praecepit. Tunc Georgius de quatuor regem breviter instruxit, scilicet ut ecclesiarum dei curam haberet, sacerdotes honoraret, divinum officium diligenter audiret et semper pauperum memor esset; et sic osculato rege inde recessit.

From whose altar a living fountain emanates, whose draught heals all the languid. The king, indeed, offered an immense sum of money to blessed George, which he, unwilling to receive it, ordered to be given to the poor. Then George briefly instructed the king concerning four things, namely, that he should have care of the churches of God, honor the priests, diligently hear the divine office, and always be mindful of the poor; and thus, having kissed the king, he departed from there.

In aliquibus tamen libris legitur quod dum draco ad devorandum puellam pergeret, Georgius se cruce muniuit et draconem aggrediens interfecit.

In some books, however, it is read that, while the dragon was proceeding to devour the maiden, George fortified himself with the cross and, assailing the dragon, slew it.