‘ pictos - pictures tell our stories – about our past, present and future ’

‘PICTOS - PICTURES TELL OUR STORIES –

ABOUT OUR PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE’

GERMANY FINLAN

D

POLAND

FRANCEWALES GREECE

POLISH LEGENDS: ST. MARY’S BUGLE-CALL

Cracow was filled with fear when the news of Tatars’ attack on a nearby city – Sandomierz, reached the city.

1. A long time ago Polish lands were devastated by ruthless Tatars.

He had a bad feeling about that day and woke up exceptionally early.

2. It was before dawn when the trumpeter from St. Mary’s Tower walked down the streets of Krakow to his work.

-Thank God - he sighed and sat on his bench. Soon afterwards he fell asleep.

3. Afer he had got to the tower, he sighed with relief. The whole city was sleeping peacefully.

He looked around carefully and his eyes went wide at the sight of hordes of Tatars walking towards the gates of the city.

4. Suddenly the sounds made him get up nervously.

5. The trumpeter immediately pressed the trumpet to his mouth and started playing St. Mary’s bugle call.

6. In a morning silence, the melody was echoing against the city walls, waking up the residents.

- Has the trumpeter gone mad? What's happening? - They were asking each other while wiping the sleep out of their eyes.

However the bugle call didn't stop even for a moment. Finally, the citizens understood that it signalized danger.

7. The fierce battle for the city of Cracow began – the air was cut with arrows and stones, the snorting of horses mixed with human screams.

And above this all towered the melody of the bugle call.

8. At last, the Tatars finally noticed who had warned the citizens and arrows flew in the direction of the trumpeter.

9. Suddenly the sound stopped and Cracow was filled with dead silence.

The trumpeter died from a Tatar arrow, his hand not letting go his trumpet.

10. The memory of his heroic act is still kept alive by thousands of Polish people and every day the bugle call from St. Mary's Tower is played out in the four directions of the world. The same sound as the one from hundreds of years ago when it was cut short by the deadly arrow.

THE END