Złota kaczka

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Złota kaczka (Polish for Golden duck) is a legendary creature popular in Warsaw's urban legends and folk-lore. According to a popular story, noted by Artur Oppman, the duck is dwelling in the cellars beneath the Ostrogski Castle. The creature, in fact a princess enchanted by the devil, is living in a small pond, surrounded with gold and diamonds, and is waiting for a poor boy from the plebs to set her free.

According to most versions of the legend, the duck will give 100 golden coins to anyone who dares to enter the labyrinth of cellars and manages to find her. The small fortune however is to be spent entirely on that person's own living and desires. Not a single grosz could be given away and not a single penny is to be left for another day. Depending on the version of the legend, there are two similar endings:

  • a poor young boy, shoemaker's pupil, finds the golden duck and receives 100 ducats, but is unable to spend all the money in one day. Because of that he gives the remaining money to a beggar, who tells him that it's not the money that brings luck. The golden duck disappears, taking with her all the riches hidden beneath the castle, but from that day on the boy is lucky. He becomes a shoemaking master, finds a beautiful wife, lives on until his late years, surrounded with happy children and friends.
  • a soldier of the 4th Regiment finds the duck and receives 100 ducats. A drunkard and bon-vivant, he has no trouble spending all the money on drinking with his friends. However, shortly before returning to the cellars beneath the castle to claim the fortune and princess' hand, he sees an old beggar and, unwillingly, gives him a single grosz that was left deep in his pocket. The duck disappears taking all the riches away, but the soldier lives his life happily ever after.
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