On Old Father Czech Lore Books

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How the Czechs came to their homeland.

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Forefather Czech

Many centuries ere, it came to be that a Voivode Czech lived in the distant lands of the Croats. Bethinking the great lack of land for his people, he resolved to set forth from his native country. Therewith convening a large congress, he made offerings to the gods, parted ways with the beloved country of his birth, and set off towards the West in search of new lands. Women, children, the elderly - on foot and bz wagon, their livestock and property in tow - the entire nation followed its great leader. It was many weeks hence they reached a new country, one hitherto unknown. But lo! The people of this land spoke in a tongue that was not deaf to their ears. And they persevered, proceeding farther, until they reached a place where the inhabitants were dressed only in hides and of a hirsute appearance and blocked their path with arms in hand. And thus they continued onward, deep through dense, untamed forests, through swamp and brush, until they came to a mountain called Říp, which rose imposingly above the surrounding plain. The entire nation, being fatigued by the exertion of its great journey, dispersed and surrounded the mountain, for to regain their strength.

Therewith, Czech himself ascended the mountain, surveying the land from its heights. He beheld fertile lowlands and forests, a wealth of waters and green grazing land. On the morn, with him a great abundance of his people ascended the mountain, and upon beholding that which he too had seen, their hearts sang out. Thus spoke Voivode Czech: “Henceforth we shall not be in want, for we have found the land that we once sought! Behold! This is the Promised land, the land of milk and honey, fertile with beasts of the hunt. Here we shall find great abundance and here shall we find protection from our enemy. But it lacks a name. What say you? How shall we call this great place?” In response, all stood as one and let it heard out in a unison of voices, “May it share your name!” And to the ground they did fall, kissing the soil of their new country, which has henceforth borne the name of Czech.