Short answer
South Africa — The Flying Dutchman:
- is
- sails
- says
- tried
- said
- meant
- were cursed
- believe
- see
- brings
- has inspired
Belarus — The Black Lady of Nesvizh Castle:
- fell
- got
- were
- became
- was poisoned
- left
- wanted
Completed text
The Flying Dutchman is a ghost ship that sails the seas forever. The story says that Captain Hendrick van der Decken tried to sail around the Cape of Good Hope during a storm. He said he would do it even if it meant going against God. Because of this, he and his crew were cursed to sail forever. Sailors believe that if they see the ghost ship with torn sails, it brings bad luck. This story has inspired operas, poems, and many scary tales.
Long ago, Barbara Radziwill, a beautiful noblewoman, fell in love with King Sigismund Augustus, and they got married. Many people were against their marriage. Soon after Barbara became queen, she was poisoned, and the king left heartbroken. He wanted to see her again.
Why these tenses are used
- Present Simple describes general facts and beliefs: is, sails, says, believe, see, brings.
- Past Simple describes completed events in the legends: tried, said, meant, fell, got, became, left, wanted.
- Passive voice is used when the subject receives the action: were cursed, was poisoned.
- Present Perfect in has inspired shows a past action whose result is important now.
- In the general condition if they see …, it brings …, both parts use the Present Simple.
