April 23rd is St George's Day in England and also the date of Will Shakespeare's Birth in 1564.
In celebration of both events - here is an alternative take of George's encounter with the Dragon
George, he spied a dragon, when walking through the town "Where do you come from?" The dragon said, as he looked him up and down "I come from foreign lands afar - originally from Turkey But visited Moscow, Portugal and Greece -and all before I'm thirty! When I got to Libya, I went in search of gold But I found a hermit - who was very, very old He told me of a dragon who had made a nest And the place which he had chosen - was certainly not the best! The nest was on the water source and the Dragon would not move And he was sacrificing maidens - but their mother's disapproved. I said that this would have to stop and went out to meet the dragon I thrust my sword and killed him dead - whilst swigging Raki from my flagon! I then was hailed as their patron saint and added them to my list Of places that call to me - when invaders they resist. And what of you my scaly friend - who's Patron Saint are you? If you really are a Dragon - you will have to form a queue. Do you know who your father was? - 'cos if you are related To the Libyan dragon which I slew - your death - it is awaited." The Dragon looked up at George and heaved a heavy sigh "I have not travelled as far as you - so your fears will have to fly. I lived in England's precious land since before the dawn of time I swim the rivers. climb the hills and seen a world sublime I've seen the villages, the churches and the towns I've seen the streams, the lakes and the rivers running down. I've seen the sunset glowing pink on Salisbury Plain I've seen the Severn Boar rising - and sat in the English rain. I've seen the sea crashing on the North Cornwall coast I've seen families sitting down enjoying a Sunday Roast. I have seen all these things and know just where I want to be.... So would you like to join me for a nice cup of tea?" George looked at the Dragon and then he saw the light He knew he could not kill him - he had lost the will to fight. So, he accepted the Dragon's friendship and they settled down for together And eat cucumber sandwiches and discussed the English weather!
To avoid any confusion - the above was not penned by The Bard of Avon.......!