Shocking! A Hero, a Vow, Chastity, and Courtesy

There is a popular film in Poland , made some years ago, whose title I forget, dealing with the struggle in southern Poland between Pole, Cossack, Tatar, and Turk.

There is much bloodshed, heroism, humour. Vast quantities of alcohol are consumed. People pray a lot.

The Polish and Ukrainian heroes are of the aristocratic, boozing, brawling kind.

In one scene, a group of Poles arrives at the home of another aristocrat (at that time about 10% of Poles were oficially aristocrats, or Szlacht). The lady of the house courteously offers the chief the hospitality of her bed and herself.

He equally courteously declines, explaining, "I have made a promise to the Mother of God that I will decapitate three Turks with one stroke of my sabre, and that until I do so, I will abstain from love.. Unfortunately I have so far failed to perform this. Perhaps later, when I have fulfilled my vow."

She fully understands.

Not a saint, but what a hero!