When the dragon came near with its mouth open he thrust the ball of pitch down its throat so that it was not able to open its mouth or use its poisonous fangs. The dragon was choked by the ball of pitch.
While the dragon was choking and trying to get the pitch out of his mouth the knight thrust his sword into him and killed him.
The princess was then untied and taken to the palace where there was great rejoicing. The king rewarded the knight by calling him St. George and giving him a gold cross.
THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON
To show how a very wise man found out the truth of a cause brought before him for decision.
Solomon was king of Israel after his father, David, died. Solomon was a very wise king. He wrote a great many proverbs which we read in the Bible. He probably said these proverbs to his people in order to make them lead correct lives and to prosper in all their work. He was also a prosperous king and gathered much money for himself and his people. Upon one occasion the Queen of Sheba came to see him. He showed her his vast treasures of gold and silver, his houses and cattle, and he answered all the questions she asked him. The queen was greatly astonished at all this wealth, and said:
“Behold! the half was not told me. Thy wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame which I heard.”
We know that Solomon and his men built the great temple for the people of Israel, known as Solomon’s Temple. He had the stone cut in the mountain and shaped, so that when it was brought it fitted exactly into place. There was neither hammer nor ax nor any tool of iron heard in the house while it was building. So wonderful were the gold and precious jewels and rare woods and fine cloths of the temple that when it was finished there was no temple in the world finer than Solomon’s temple.
To show how wise a king was Solomon, let us see how he decided one case that was brought before him for judgment.