Beginning

From here took their origin the signs of this coat of arms; King Łokietek was preparing an army against the Prussians, Still living in the night of pagan superstitions, When one braggart, feeling powerful, Shouted from his throat, standing between two armies: “Let him who trusts in Jesus fight me in a duel, If he can, God, in whom I believe, will show it on the field, To whom I cannot give a more beautiful offering, Here is a test of knightly virtue, here a test of faith.” Thus one blasphemed with Goliath in the open field A proud German, waving a drawn rapier, As when dogs whine behind someone’s ears. The soldier named Syrokomla does not stand still, Of the Abdank coat of arms, but spurs his horse So when this blasphemer presses to die, Let him die; and having armed his chest with the holy cross, Like a lion, he strikes swiftly with impetus, Though the other, from head to toe in hardened iron, Sat on the scarlet frieze, Impaling his horse’s chest with a lance, Throws him to the ground and soon it was over, For he first beheads him, first the soul gasps, Before the heavy-armored German can rise to his feet. Hence from the king for the work of knightly deed Syrokomla receives a golden cross to Abdank.