George, a tribune by rank, of Cappadocian descent, came on one occasion into the province of Libya, into a city which is called Silena. Beside that city there was a pond as large as a sea, in which a pestilential dragon lurked, which often had put to flight the people armed against it, and approaching the walls of the city with its breath, infected them all. Wherefore the citizens, being compelled, gave it two sheep daily to calm its fury; otherwise it would so assault the city walls and infect the air that very many perished. So when the sheep had now nearly run out, especially since they could not have a supply of them, taking counsel they would give a sheep with a human being joined to it.
So when by lot the sons and daughters of the inhabitants were given, and the lot exempted no one, and now nearly all the sons and daughters had been consumed, on one occasion the king's only daughter was seized by lot and adjudged to the dragon. Then the king, grieved, said: 'Take gold and silver and half my kingdom, and leave me my daughter, that she may not die in this way.' To him the people answered in fury: 'You, O king, made this decree, and now all our children are dead, and you wish to save your daughter! Unless you fulfill in your daughter what you ordained for the others, we will burn you and your house.' Seeing this, the king began to weep for his daughter, saying: 'Alas for me, my sweetest daughter, what shall I do with you? Or what shall I say?'
'When shall I ever see your wedding?' And turning to the people he said: 'I beg you to grant me a respite of eight days to mourn my daughter.' When the people had allowed this, at the end of eight days the people returned in fury, saying: 'Why do you destroy your people for your daughter's sake? Behold, we are all dying from the dragon's breath.' Then the king, seeing that he could not deliver his daughter, clothed her in royal garments, and embracing her with tears said: 'Alas for me, my sweetest daughter, I had thought to nurse sons of you in a royal lap, and now you go to be devoured by the dragon.'
'Alas for me, my sweetest daughter, I had hoped to invite princes to your wedding, to adorn the palace with pearls, to hear drums and organs, and now you go to be devoured by the dragon.' And kissing her tenderly he let her go, saying: 'Would, my daughter, that I had died before you, rather than lose you in this way.' Then she fell at her father's feet, begging from him his blessing. And when her father had blessed her with tears, she went forward to the lake. Blessed George, passing by there by chance, when he saw her weeping, asked her what was the matter. And she said: 'Good young man, mount your horse quickly and flee, lest you die together with me.' To her George said: 'Do not fear, daughter, but tell me what you are awaiting here while all the people look on!' And she:
'As I see, good young man, you are of a noble heart, but you desire to die with me! Flee quickly.' To her George said: 'I will not depart from here until you make known to me what your trouble is.' So when she had explained the whole matter to him, George said: 'Daughter, do not fear, for in the name of Christ I will help you.' And she: 'Good knight, but make haste to save yourself; do not perish with me. For it is enough if I alone perish. For you could not deliver me, and you would perish with me.' While they were speaking thus, behold the dragon came, raising its head from the lake. Then the trembling girl said:
'Flee, good lord, flee quickly.' Then George, mounting his horse and fortifying himself with the cross, boldly attacked the dragon as it advanced against him, and brandishing his lance mightily and commending himself to God, he wounded it grievously and threw it to the ground; and he said to the girl: 'Cast your girdle around the dragon's neck, fearing nothing, daughter.' And when she had done so, it followed her like a most gentle dog. So 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 shall all perish!' Then blessed George signaled to them, saying: 'Do not fear, for the Lord has sent me to you for this very purpose, to deliver 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, and blessed George, drawing his sword, slew the dragon and commanded it to be carried outside the city. Then four yoke of oxen led it out into a great field. And there were baptized on that day twenty thousand, besides children and women. The king moreover built a church of wondrous size in honor of blessed Mary and blessed George. From its altar a living spring flows forth, the drinking of which heals all the sick. The king then offered an immense sum of money to blessed George, which he, being unwilling to accept, commanded to be given to the poor.
Then George briefly instructed the king in four things, namely, that he should have care for the churches of God, should honor the priests, should diligently attend the divine office, and should always be mindful of the poor; and having thus kissed the king, he departed from there. In some books, however, it is read that while the dragon was advancing to devour the girl, George fortified himself with the cross and, attacking the dragon, slew it.