A POLISH LEGEND

  ABOUT LECH, CZECH 

                        AND RUS

A long, long time ago lived well three brothers. Their names were Lech, Czech and Rus. Each of them led his tribe. Every three tribes lived together in a beautiful valley among forest. The land was fertile there, the water was clean, trees were growing around giving delicious fruit, a river was full of fish, and in the forest surrounding the valley there were herds of elks, aurochs and boars, which were hunted when there was no meat. People here were good, honest and brave, so everyone led a peaceful and prosperous life.

Janek S.

JANEK S.

However, as the years passed, there were more and more people, children were born, and the valley, obviously, was not growing.
 - It’s getting too tight here – one day Rus said to his brothers. - We may not have enough food to feed everyone.
 - Not good – Czech was worried. - When people are hungry, quarrels begin.
 - So we have to find new lands and move there – stated Lech.
 - You’re right! - The brothers said. - As soon as harvest ends, we will go.

            In a minute they told everyone in the valley what their plan was. Together they prepared copious supplies for the journey – dried meat, fruit, salted fish, bags of flour and groats, barrels of honey. 

So well equipped, they could wander for months. 

Thus the brothers consoled themselves a little, despite their fear of wandering into the unknown – they had no doubt that they could go very far and that they would find a new place to live, for sure.

ALA K.

As soon as harvest was over, all residents of valley packed their stuff, they harnessed the oxen to the carts, they sat the children and old people on them and set off. 

Lech, Czech and Rus bowed to their native gods and extinguished the holy fire that always burned in the center of the valley as a symbol gods’ protection. It was a visible sign that they won’t come back here.

TOMEK W.

JULIA Ga.

They were wandering for months. The tribes travelled tirelessly through forests and meadows, passed wonderful lakes and looked constantly for a good place to settle. Finally, one day they reached the foothills of gorgeous mountains they had never seen before. Mighty peaks, topped with white snow, they reached proudly into the sky above. The mountain slopes were covered with impassable pine forests.

Czech spurred his horse and gallopped forward. He climbed the steep paths, entrusting himself entirely to the agality of his horse, until he finally stood on a lofty ridge of rock. He had a lovely view from here – he saw vast valleys, swiftly rivers, meadows blooming with flowers and dense green forests. Fascinated, he turned back to his companions below.

ERNEST M.

- Here my tribe will live. - he announced. So the goodbye time has come. The bothers said goodbye for a long time, sorrow filled their hearts. They wished each other good luck. -Let us promise ourselves that our tribes will always be friendly with each other - Czech said. - It will be worthwhile to do so – Lech and Rus agreed. So they shook their hands and promised never to fight against each other. Then their hugged heartily. Lech and Rus continued the trip at the head of their people.

OSKAR W.

Weeks passed. Autumn was slowly approaching, the trees were red and gold, the branches were sagging with fruit, the carpet of mushrooms covered forest grass. The days were still hot, but at night more fires were burned.

One day the brothers at the head of their people left the dense forest and saw vast plains ahead of them unlike any of them had ever seen before. The sea of green grass swayed to the horizon, the wind rustled overhead and birds circled. Rus spurred his horse and galloped forward enjoying the space, and the fertile ground bowed under the horse’s hooves. 

Fascinated, he turned back to his brother waiting near the forest.
- Here my tribe will live - he announced.

ZUZIA S.

MADZIA M.

So another goodbye time has come. The brothers sat for a long time by the night fire, talking and remembering. At dawn they shook their hands and Lech continued his trip at the head of his people.   

More weeks passed. Autumn was slowly turning into winter, the leaves withered and fell, it was getting harded and harder to get any fruit. Fires were already burned every night, and more than once in the morning it turned out that where the warmth of the life-giving flames did not reach, a layer of frost on the grass and branches silvered. People were also tired, supplies were running out...

NIKOLA C.

JULIA Go.

LUKASZ B.

- See, my lord, what a beautiful land we pass – the elders of his tribe said passing by beautiful valleys and deep rivers. - I have a feeling that this isn’t it yet – Lech answered and rode on and on. 

One day, as the sun was setting, they entered a vast ancient forest. Mighty trees hummed all around, birches, firs, oaks. They reached a great clearing and stopped, obedient to the solemn atmosphere of this place. It was quiet and peaceful there, and somehow pleasant at the same time. 

- Look, my lord! - One of the people exclaimed, pointing to a lonely tree in the middle of a clearing.

ARTUR B.

                  Lech raised his head and saw in the crown of a sky-high oak tree a nest made of branches, and in it a snow-white eagle. The bird looked at them and spread its strong winds wide, as if it wanted to hide under them all the people standing in the clearing. - I was waiting for such a sign! - Lech shouted. - Here we will stay, we will build a city, ant it – he pointed to the eagle, clearly visible in the red sky of the west – will be our coat of arms.

NIKOLA R.

And so it happened. In the place chosen by Lech, a beautiful, rich city grew over time, named after the eagle’s nest Gniezno. It was the first capital of Poland, and it still stands in the place, surrounded by dense forests. The white eagle is a proud symbol of our country.

PHILIPPE R.

                              THE END

The pictures created by the students of a Primary School named after Jan Dlugosz in Raciborowice as well as the translation of the legend.